Burnt Toast

2004-05-25T22:45:00.000-07:00

Ooh boy. It has been too long since I put anything here. Been busy raising a daughter and moving and training and being a moderator on Martial Arts PLanet. I have a journal over there, under kurohana, that will catch you up, if you care.

2003-04-25T04:20:00.000-07:00

Wow. It's been awhile since I put anything on this Blog. However, I have been keeping up (sort of) with the Zendo blog.
Quick recap. Back in Febuary I injured myself during a seminar. Doctor thought I had a torn medial meniscus, that's the material between the femur and tibia. Acts like a washer for your bones. Anyways, surgery was this past Monday. Turns out the tear wasn't that bad. At least not bad enough to cause the pain I have been having. That was caused by a piece of folded cartiledge jammed into the joint. Which in turn was most likely caused by a bony (don't remember the medical name for it) buildup, which it seems I have had from birth, on the femur. This acted like the teeth in gear and pulled the cartiledge into the joint and ground away at it.The doctor removed both of these and said the rest of the tissue looks really healthy. Once the the blood is reabsorbed back into my system (knee is swollen and stiff) then I can go back to class.
EBay and donations for my trip to Japan is up to $300 now. Still a long ways to go. I don't know if it is goingto be worth keeping the site open. With all the surgery and almost dying a month ago, I haven't had much time or energy to update the site.
Oh yeah. Almost died last month. I have a bleeding ulcer, lost a liter of blood and ended up in the ER and ICU and in shock. Looked like a corpse. Feeling better now. Most of my color is back.

2003-02-28T20:59:00.000-08:00

Up to $121.57 in eBay sales in Paypal and another $25 in money orders. that's the Send Brad To Japan financial report for the day.

Grey gray sky
Red hawk wheeling
Rabbit, life or death?

Knee is still a bit swollen. Bought 2 canes today to assist me in moving around. They really do make a difference. The brace helps some, but if I have to put too much weight on my leg, I might as well be wearing nothing.

2003-02-21T19:27:00.000-08:00

Up to $56 in Paypal towards my Japan trip. $5 from a donation. Anyone else care to donate? I would really appreciate it. I'll be your friend. If I'm ever in your neighborhood ( or you're in mine) I'll wash your car. Really. I said so right here, that means I have to do it. But, you have to donate first.
Changed the thermostat in the car tonight. Going to go check on it in a few minutes, make sure I didn't leak all over the dang place. Driving up to Columbia tomorrow, want to make sure I make it up and back.

2003-02-20T20:12:00.000-08:00

Flash! Just opened a Store at Cafe Press. Selling original artwork (and eventually photos) on clothing and mugs and stickers. And of course, all of this goes towards funding my trip to Japan. Please, be a sport and at least check it out.

2003-02-18T17:12:00.000-08:00

No work, no class, trapped inside the house. Oh well, could be worse. I could have ended up trapped in a ditch n the way to work, gotten there late and be stuck there all night. No thanks. Looking for a place, a zendo, to study at. Some guidance on my path. Any suggestions?

2003-02-18T05:46:00.000-08:00

Aaagh!! Tried to go to work this morning, got 1/2 way there, roads getting worse, twice forced off the road by some jerk in an SUV that thinks he owns the road (have nothin against SUV's only SOME off the people that drive them and act like jerks while doing so). Decided that it wasn't worth wrecking my car or getting killed, so I came home.
Total for Send Brad To Japan is up to $19.27. $10.00 from eBay sales. $0.00 from donations, or as I like to refer to them "Sponsors".

2003-02-17T17:31:00.000-08:00

Snow, snow everywhere. At least 12 inches in front of my house. So, get to sped too much time surfing the internet. Two sites I found that you have just got to visit. If you like your humor sick and twisted or real life. Killfrog and Something - Positive. These guys are real geniuses. I donated to S-P and you should too. When I get the spare cash, I'm going to buy a Hoodie from Killfrog.
Dug my car out from the snow today. Wow, what fun. Maybe this is the real reason I kept going back to Saudi Arabia. I HATE SNOW.
Please, help send me to Japan.

2003-02-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

Inaugarating a new site today. Send Brad To Japan. This site is my blatant plea for your money to help finance a trip to Japan to train with Masaaki Hatsumi, the Soke (Grandmaster) of the Bujinkan Schools of Martial Arts. I need your help to make this site and this trip a success. Please donate freely and generously (and often).

2003-02-07T06:19:00.000-08:00

Baby is 4 weeks old today. Sleeping thru most of the night. Wish I was.

2003-01-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO THE WORLD ZARA ALEXANDRA ELLIN. Born at 8:28 am on 10 Jan 2003. 5.15 pounds, 18.5 inches. Mother and daughter are doing fine.

2002-12-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

Hmm... trend here. Weeks or months go by and I write nothing. Then "WHAM!", drivel.Pap. Crap. You name it. Why bother? Because at times one needs to un-burdern, drive the demons out by laying them on paper or in electrons as the case may be. Going to start a new blog. This one dedicated to my thoughts and experiences and note on Bujinkan Taijutsu.For more on that, you' just have to read it. I'll put up a link to it later, and in a week I'll change the link on my site to rediect to that blog.
Gambatte!

2002-12-11T22:00:00.000-08:00

Let's see, been almost a month since I wrote anything in here. Baby's due in 5 and a half weeks. Zara Alexandra Ellin, Zee or Alex or Lexi for short.
Back in martial arts class. Budo Taijutsu. Last class was with knives. One of my favorites. I am very comfortable with them. Did some interesting drills. Would love a few hours of time to write down all we did. Alas. I am sneaking a few minutes to write this down.

2002-11-18T12:19:00.000-08:00

Somewhere in the owrld, right this very second, someone is: making love, laughing, crying, dying, hugging a child, going to jail, getting out of jail, fighting, making up, writing a book, listening to a story, reading a book, playing a song, dancing, falling, saving a life, taking a life, praying to God, cursing God, cooking, eating, LIVING. Life goes on. Can't stop it. No matter what happens to you, it is happening to somene else. somewhere else at that same time. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

2002-11-01T21:06:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's been awhile since I've written anything. Just over 2 weeks. But the beauty is, I am not being paid to write and no one is reading, so I can write whenever I want.
I am listening to a new book. The Dalai Lama's How to Practice. And I have started listening to a How to speak Japanese Book on tape. And I started back to class. What lovely fun!! I'm going to try and go to a seminar next weekend, in NJ. Wish me luck in getting someone at work to swap days off with me.

2002-10-15T23:15:00.000-07:00

Rain falling
Shot fired
Life is changed

2002-10-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

Family friends
none?
how lonely

2002-10-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

Another day another 2 cent ( after taxes of course ). But I can't complain, I have a job. Some people are not as fortunate. They've lost their jobs, homes, family. I am thankful I have mine. I have a good job, a roof over my head, a wife and two daughters that love me and a few close friends that mean the world to me.

2002-10-09T21:41:00.000-07:00

$$$$Debt? Me?
No more.
Cash and carry

2002-10-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

Strange things agoing on. I had a security clearance interview today. To clear up some issues about my wife's immigration status and my relationship with my in-laws and my stepfather. And the 62,000+ debt (?????) that I have. What a shock. But, upon further investigation, we had determined it wasn't me. My SSN got messed up by one digit. And that crossed referenced to someone else's credit history. BUT, it also had some of my stuff on it. 3 debts that were repaid. But the rest of it, well, hell, I was in Saudi Arabia when I supposedly bought a new car. And, I have never lived in Richmond Va. A new copy of mycredit report has been requested by the DOD, and I also requested copies about 2 weeks ago. So, I may be on the right path to sorting out my credit history.

2002-10-07T21:43:00.000-07:00

The burn, the sting
Indelible ink
Bliss

2002-10-07T21:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, how many of you have tattoos? Raise your hands. Higher now. Now, how many have wives or girlfriends who are NOT tattooed, and don't understand you? I have a few. Maybe 25% coverage. And of course, I want more. In articular, I want a tibetan dorje ( that's a buddhist thunderbolt to those of you who don't know what I'm talking about ) tattooed on my left forearm, at the "blade" of the forearm. You know, that spot that's now the front or back of the forearm, but to the outside. Sits right above the ulnar bone. That would be the ideal spot for this tattoo. Only my wife doesn't like the idea. Naturally. The last one I got was to cover up one that I had gotten a few years ago. The old one was a pair of eyes ( my ex's to be exact ) and my wife said to either cover them up or she would claw them out. I chose the cover-up. Less painful.

2002-10-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

Orange and green
Roly and poly
Machines

2002-10-05T21:39:00.000-07:00

The good news is, my wife got her work permit this past Thursday. She is now legally allowed to work in the USA. Not hat she was working illegally, she wasn't working at all. Nor do I think anyone will hire her until after the baby is born. But, it's a start.
The bad news is I have been suffering major depression. But, in my own words to others suffering the same " Get over it".
My oldest daughter's brithday is in9 days. She will be 16. Sweet 16. For her birthday, I want to get her a car. A VW Beetle to be exact. And, if he doesn't sell them, I have found 2 of them, 20 minutes from the house. Price is right, so right in fact that I want to buy both of them. But, I won't have the money until the middle of November. I told her if they are still there, I will get her one. I would like to get the second one for myself, but my wife is not keen on the idea. We need to sit down and figure out our finances, then decide. I know that he is moving them to a storage lot sometime in the next week or so, and that there will be less chance of anyone else seeing them. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

2002-09-28T21:12:00.001-07:00

Flash, crash
Bluescreen
Death

2002-09-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

Another day. Got a letter from the INS today, asking for my wife's divorce certificate from her first marriage. For those not so informed, getting anything accomplished thru the Indian court system is a test fit for Job. Very hard to do, especially if you are a woman and a muslim. I have written a letter to the INS asking what documents, if any, can be submitted in it's place in the event we cannot obtain it. Now the waiting.
Had a bit of a scare yesterday. My wife had a sonogram done Thursday morning. Yesterday her doctor calls and says based on the technicians report he wants my wife in the hospital for monitoring. Seems her cervix was only 2cm long, when the average is 3. Everything is okay. She is supposed to be taking it easy. But....

2002-09-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

Kicking, squirming
Heart beating
Signs of a new life

2002-09-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

Rant, rave, compliment or condemn? Which is a more effective outlet? If you rant against something, are people more likely to listen to you? I think yes. But, will they learn from you? I think no. Compliment someone, or something and I think more people will listen and learn from you. Positive reinforcement I believe, is a stronger tool in educating people.

2002-09-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

P.S. I started taking pictures again. Go to Photographica.org.

2002-09-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

Today was our INS initial interview. I think it went quite well. The only thing we lack is a copy of my wife's divorce decree from her first marriage. Any one who has dealt with the Indian court system knows how hard it can be to get papers. Especially something that took place over 10 years ago, and especially when it involves a muslim ( and a woman ). Before any self-righteous Indian Hindus get upset, you know I am speaking the truth, and it hurts. I love India, and I think the people are wonderful, but I also believe ( and have witnessed ) that Indians are more prejudiced and racist and bigoted than any white American could ever be. Small example, when talking about someone my wife has not met, 9 times out of 10, her first question is, "What color are they?". As if it matters or I give a damn.
Anyways, this isn't about that, it's about my wife being on her way to getting a Green Card and/or a work permit. 2 weeks, and I have to call back to check on the status of her work permit.

2002-09-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

Motes drifting
Currents weaving
Invisible

2002-09-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

Another day down and the Earth still spins on it's axis. Unlike Don Pendelton's book "Cataclysm". Most of you may remember Mr. Pendelton as the creator of Mack Bolan, The Executioner. But he also wrote another book about the Earth reversing on it's rotation and his idea of what would happen next. Not a bad story, but fairly hard to come by. I found a copy while over in Saudi Arabia, but alas, it has gone missing.

2002-09-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

Perceptions of reality,
Whose?
Your's?

2002-09-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, let me re-state what I said earlier about bioethics. The correct phrase is "utilitarian bioethics". Read Doctors of Death to get an idea of what this encompasses. Even scarier is that idea that some people advocate the idea of assisted suicide ( or euthanasia ) for the mentally challenged or physically deformed. Using, of course, their definition of deformed or challenged. If you don't meet the ideal they espouse, you are a prime candidate for removal from the human race. Here's an example.

2002-09-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

Wasteing crippling
Heavy heart sinking
Dying

2002-09-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

I've been neglecting my bloggy thing here lately. I have been extremeley busy at work, that's all I can offer in my defense. But, since no one reads this thing but me, who cares?
Re-reading Dean Koontz's "One Door Away From Heaven" and have come across a frightening idea called "bioethics". More on that as I find more information. What I have read about it scares the hell out of me.

2002-09-06T23:04:00.000-07:00

Home alone again
Loneliness sets in
Suicide

2002-09-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

Warm nights wafting breeze
Fluttery sheer dreams
Carried away

2002-09-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

Well, what a busy week it has been. 24 hours of overtime. That is almost a full weeks paycheck for me. It covers the car repairs and leaves me with something to put into savings. Leaves me with little time to do the ordinary things. Blog, exercise, sleep.
My wife is leaving for New York tomorrow morning. Going to visit her cousins. We got our INS letter of appointment finally. Maybe it was the letter I wrote to them, or maybe it was the letter I wrote to my Congressman. Either way, I got my money back from filing for the motion to re-open, and I got my appointment letter. Happens to fall the day after our 3rd wedding anniversary. So, I am going to take the day off and we'll spend the day and evening in Baltimore. Maybe I'll call my brothers and ask them to join us.

2002-08-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

Profanity? Profundity? One and the same??
It depends upon,
Your name.

2002-08-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

Whining grinding
Yesterdays pain
No more

2002-08-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

You are probably thinking, what's with the bad poetry? Experiment. Can I write 3 lines of poetry a day. Without having to think more that 1 minute.

2002-08-25T21:00:00.001-07:00

Night sky full moon
Whisp of cloud
Obscuring

2002-08-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

When ever I use Opera to access Blogger, it gives me this eeny weeny tiny little box in which to write my posts. Very annoying.

2002-08-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

Cluttered shelves, cluttered mind
Clean the shelves, find more time
Peace of mind

2002-08-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

No more photography for me. Trying to get my life organized (again) and there are some things that will take a "zero" priority. Photography is one. I'm not that good anyways, so the world won't be missing much. That and guitar playing. Certain physical limitations have put the kibosh on my ability to mangle songs. Poetry, drawing, those things I can continue to pursue. I have plenty of paper and pencils and markers. My martial arts, once I finish with the Dr and find out whether I have to have surgery again, I can continue with. Like wise the meditation and reading and computer skills. Computers are looking more promising for me as a career, after all, even if my hands and arms cramp up and spams, I can still think and type. Albiet, type slowly, I can still do it.
I have an appointment with a urologist today to find out why, a year after my vasectomy reversal, I am still have chronic testicular pain. Not looking forward to it, but have to find out if anything can be done.

2002-08-19T18:09:00.000-07:00

Waiting, wanting purpose
Falling, drifting finding purpose
Going home.

2002-08-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

Had Linux up on my other computer, but decided to uninstall it and use my spare hard drive to back up some importnat stuff. Uninstalling Linux is a headache. Don't get me wrong. I like Linux, but until more people (like my wife) are comfortable using it, I have to use Windows. When I get a 3rd machine up and running, I will dedicate it to Linux.

2002-08-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

She won't prance under the pale moon ever again
Her faded denims sit in the corner,
Yearning

2002-08-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Part One of the Great Housecleaning Adventure is over. Part Two has started. It's that time of year to weed out, consolodate and throw away all those little scraps of paper that have numbers, passwords and other crap written on them. Time to find that boklet for the VCR you bought last year and the sewing kit you lost the day after you got it.And if you are lucky, enough change to buy a beer or two.

2002-08-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

INS. I really dislke dealing with them. My wife and I got letters from the INS on Thursday morning saying we missed our interview. An interview that we were never notified about. So, Friday morning we woke up early, and headed to Baltimore ( an hour and a half drive ) to straighten this out. Once we get there, and get to talk to someone, I explain the situation. We never recieved notice of an interview, that we had been wating for the interview and what can we do so that my wife does not get deported. The Information Officer disappears for a fwe minutes and when she returns she tells us that she talke d to the case officer and their supervisor and all we could do was file a motion to reopen the file and that it would cost us 100$. I asked to speak to the case officer, because I did not think it was fair that I get penalized for something I did not do. She disappeared again and when she returned, told me they refused to speak to me. So I asked to speak to their supervisor and was told they were not there. So, i had to file the motion and pay the money, that I don't really have to spare to begin with. Interesting points: 1) When asked if this happens often, the infomation officer would not answer, just rolled her eyes. 2) They sent the denial notices by return reciept, why not the interview notice? That way the INS would have proof that the notice was sent and recieved. As it is, there is no proof it was ever sent. Yet, I am being penalized. 3) Why wouldn't the case officer speak to me? I don't think I was making an unreasonable request.

2002-08-11T23:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have DSL and have been downloading things like crazy. Mostly freeware, programs I haven't downloaded before because they were too big. But, a 40 meg download in under 20 minutes? Hell yeah!!
I have been trying to convince my wife to start an on line diary or even a blog. She is great at conveying a thought, and I feel she should write it down. Let the whole world read it.... she could do a travelogue or a bit on what it's like to immigrate to America.
But, for me, it's late. Good night.

2002-08-08T18:12:00.000-07:00

DSL is great!!! I hooked it up last night, and it's like a whole new world.
I started my parttime job at Borders, and I must say, I am having fun. My main job is shelving, but I get to help people find books too. I love it. As an added bonus, everyone I have met there is really nice and laid back. Perfect for me. No stress....
Computer classes may be a bit difficult right now. There are no Sat or Morning classes, not enough interest in them. But, as soon as there is, the school will notify me.

2002-08-05T23:12:00.000-07:00

I got it. A part time job at Borders. I start tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow morning I will go over to the school. They sent me a letter today saying they will accept payments on the tuition. From what the letter states, I can make payments every 2 weeks. That works out pretty good. I may even have a little money left over from my P/T job. That can go towards baby stuff and another car. Life is looking up. My kids are here, spending the night with me. May be the last chance to spend time with them, school starts in 3 weeks and with me starting another job.... you get the idea.

2002-08-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

I did it. First step towards paying for my school. I went to Borders and applied for a job. Spoke to the manager and scheduled an interview for Monday afternoon. He was pretty upbeat and positive that I would get the job, only question is whether the HR person would go for working around my full-time work schedule. But, I have to try. If it doesn't work out there, I'll try a video store, last resort I'll try Wal Mart or some place like it. I want to keep it with books and music and videos right now, because that is what I know. Or at least used to know.
Went by the Computer Tech School. Doors closed, so I left a message on their machine. Waiting to see if they call back.

2002-08-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

I have just released a book on SF-Books.com. The book is Tick Tock, by Dean Koontz. Do you want it? Go register at SF-Books.com and let me know you want it. I'll send it to you, you log on Book Crossing and make an entry, then when you are done reading it... release it into the wild.

2002-08-01T00:05:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's my habit of posting in the wee hours of the morning that causes my blog to go un-noticed. If it is noticed, then why does no-one leave comments? Boring? Oh well, maybe I'll never know the reason. But I will keeping tapping away at this keyboard.
Keeping this blog is therapy for me. A chance to vent and rant and say things that sometimes I might not be able to verbalize.
Pet peeve: Drivers who race up behind you and start tailgating you. If there wasn't a car beside me, you moron, I'd move over and let you speed down the highway. Usually what happens is, I move over, and there they are at the next traffic light... reving their engine to leap out when the light changes... and at the next light there they are, reving their engine... and this goes on and on for a few miles. Hey, did it occur to you that your racing up and down the road is NOT getting you there faster. What it is doing is increasing your odds of a speeding ticket or an accident.
Pet peeve: Micro-management. I am perfectly capable of doing my job without being told how to do it. All I want and need from you is to tell me what your priorities are and what your needs are. Then leave me alone. I can do it.
Pet peeve: People not having faith in me. I have demonstrated that I am capable of not screwing up more often than I screw up. If I put my mind to something, I usually succeed. Now, let me.

2002-07-31T08:02:00.000-07:00

Which way to go? College ( community college ) or tech school? I want to become certified in network security. I don't want to learn the test, therefore no certification mill for me, I want to learn how to do it and why you do what you do. I want to learn what DNS and IP and packets and routers mean and how they work together. I guess it boils down to money. Which is the least expensive and who can help me get financing. Any suugestions, world?

2002-07-30T22:13:00.000-07:00

Free ISPs, are they worth it? I'm trying out several right now. For the pleasure of clicking on a few ads and getting some sent to my email, I get free internet access. Well, 10 hours a month free. Or, I can pay 9.95 a month and get unlimited access. I'll try them out for awhile and see how annoying the popups get. If it's not too annoying, I'll stick with it. If it gets to me, but they have good connection, I'll pay the cheap price. I'm also checking out some cheap web hosting services. There are a few out there, but do they deliver? Plus there are a few free web hosts, are they worth it? I'm talking business hosting, not homepage. I have one of those.

2002-07-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS vs LEGAL IMMIGRANTS
First off, I'm going to refrain from calling them aliens. That conjures up images of little grey men and anal probes. What I'm talking about here are people who come to America on visitor visas, with no intention of going home when their visa expires. Instead they hook up with family and get jobs, rent a place with 5 or 6 others doing the same, and think there is nothing wrong with what they are doing. Before anyone starts blasting me for being politically incorrect or not caring about the plight of others less fortunate than me, understand this: If you come here and want to immigrate, go through the proper channels. It's that simple. My wife is from India. It does not automatically grant her citizenship or even a residence visa or work visa. We have to go through the INS and fill out paperwork and pay filing fees.And that is what we are doing. Sure, it's time consuming and expensive and she can't work until she gets her work visa, at least I won't let her work until then, but we are doing it legally. I do not want the INS to have any excuse to deny her a residence visa.
Now, she gets a call from a couple of former co-workers who came to the USA on visitor visas, and have stayed. One is looking for a contract marriage so she can stay. The others are working illegally adn making as much as I do, and not paying taxes! It's all under the table. And my wife thinks it's great that they can make a better life for their selves. I think it's bull$#*! I try to explain that in effect, they are taking jobs and therefore food from legitimate workers. Whether immigrants or citizens, doesn't matter. Now, someone who is here legally, can not get a job because these thieves have taken it. Harsh? I don't care. Don't like my point of view? Tell me. But keep it civil. No name calling or threats. Tell me why someone here illegally should be entitled to a job and any benefits.

2002-07-28T22:28:00.000-07:00

Mildly pleased with myself. Back on main computer, and just finished configuring my comment script. Thank you Haloscan.com.
I promise the next entry will be more than a few lines of "That bites". In fact, you just may wish that was all I'll write sometimes. I can get pretty wordy. My wife says I say the same thing n 50 different ways, all in the same conversation. Phooie!! What does she know about what goes on in my brain? Hell, even I don't know what goes on most of the time.

2002-07-28T22:19:00.000-07:00

Okay.. it's semi-working. I have gotten it to pop up once. It may be my slow connection that is making it hard for me to test. That and the fact that my wife is on the other computer writing email and playing with AOL.

2002-07-28T22:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, I got the comment link and number to show up, but now I get a page cannot be found when I click on it. Is it me? Or my connection? Oh the curse of dial up. If I could afford cable or DSL I would get it.

2002-07-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

Still not working! This bites!

2002-07-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

Still not working. What am I doing wrong?

2002-07-28T21:35:00.000-07:00

Testing 1, 2 , 3. Trying to install a comment script, but it doesn't seem to be showing up.

2002-07-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

Well, that sucks. I just spilled half a glass of red wine ( merlot to be exact ) on my carpet/desk/phone. I had been so busy getting this thing up and running again and working on my home page that I forgot the wine was there and when I leaned back in my chair... well, you get the picture. MY wife is going to be a bit upset and say I had too much to drink... truth be told, I'm just plain clumsy. I can do ganseke nagi and musha dori but I'm still a clumsy oaf.
It's midnight. My wife will be getting ready for bed soon. Me? I haven't decided yet. Bed or more time on this box? I'm not tired nor drunk. Tho' I wish I was the later, to give me something to blame spilling my drink on.
Rant - what to rant about? Current events? Pet peeves? Smibs? ( If you don't know what a smib is, thank whatever diety you worship )

2002-07-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

I know my template sucks right now. But give me time. I have forgotten almost everything about html since I came home. You know how it goes, if you don't use it, you'll lose it. But, as time goes by, I'll redesign and polish this site. A little graphical ornamentation and some more plugs. A link to a few of what I feel are note worthy sites, like
Book Crossing. As a matter of fact, for the time being, I'll even leave clues to where I have put books here on my blog. You can expect me to leave them mainly in Maryland, but occasionally in Washington DC and Virginia.

2002-07-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

Well, didn't think I'd ever find time to restart my blog. A lot has happened since I last posted. For awhile, I deleted all my blogs/logs/diaries. World events made what happened in my life seem insignificant. 9/11, Afghanistan, child abductions, priests and pedophilia... my quitting work and coming back to America didn't seem as important. But, now I am home and life goes on. I am working again, my wife is pregnant with our first child ( subject of another post later this week ), paperwork with the INS seems to be going smoothly along. So, I have time to write again. About my dreams and aspirations, fears and peeves. Time to rant and rave and compliment and flatter.

Shameless plug. Visit my home page when you get a chance. As with this, I haven't had time to update and keep it current, but that is changing. So, Click Me.