Got up at 6:30 and loaded my stuff into the truck. Hugged and left at 7.
It rained during this trip back down. Sometimes it rained very hard and traffic had to slow down. I think I am glad that I made my return trip today instead of yesterday - the traffic must have been much worse yesterday.
Stopped for fuel at North Santee -- right before the Santee-Cooper lakes and got fuel just south of St. Augustine, FL. Windows were rolled up almost the entire trip, but my mileage was not as good as on the way up. Maybe my speed was higher. It must have been because I got back in 8.5 hours.
When I got home I began unpacking... was not home 10 minutes and my cellphone rang. It was Craig Hodges at FER just making sure I don't have any last minute questions. I assured him that I did not and that I was sure this was going to work out fine.
I got my passport and SSN card out for the I-9 tomorrow... took a hot shower, washed laundry, and blogged... I am hungry and thirsty so I see a trip to the store coming before I sleep.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Monday, May 30, 2005
Memorial Day
It rained today. Sprinklers ran in the yard anyway because they run on Mon, Wed, and Fri regardless.
Pretty much just layed on the couch all day watching the inane stuff on cable TV. There are a lot of war movies on for Memorial Day weekend. I finished my magazine. Southeastern NC prides itself on the slow way of life down here, and the local TV programming just reinforces that laid back country attitude. Kinda backward.
Tried to nap, but everytime I would try they would start asking me questions or start arguing back and forth. So that was not going to happen.
Around 2PM Marrissia and Kevin came to pick up Duncan. Boy, was he glad to see them ! He does not like getting left behind.
We ate London broil from the grill, baked beans, macaroni and cheese and chips for dinner. It was tasty. I cut up some hotdogs and added them to my baked beans.
This evening we watched Hunt For Red October and American Chopper. After the Tonight Show began we went to bed.
Pretty much just layed on the couch all day watching the inane stuff on cable TV. There are a lot of war movies on for Memorial Day weekend. I finished my magazine. Southeastern NC prides itself on the slow way of life down here, and the local TV programming just reinforces that laid back country attitude. Kinda backward.
Tried to nap, but everytime I would try they would start asking me questions or start arguing back and forth. So that was not going to happen.
Around 2PM Marrissia and Kevin came to pick up Duncan. Boy, was he glad to see them ! He does not like getting left behind.
We ate London broil from the grill, baked beans, macaroni and cheese and chips for dinner. It was tasty. I cut up some hotdogs and added them to my baked beans.
This evening we watched Hunt For Red October and American Chopper. After the Tonight Show began we went to bed.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Wilmington, NC
Today I washed and waxed my truck in the morning. First time it has been waxed in about a year. It really needed it ! I moved the truck to the shade under the pine tree to wax it. Then Bill started to mow the yard so I put it back infront of the garage.
Becky and Bill had to go to a housewarming party in the afternoon. That is when I used dressing on all of the vinyl and cleaned the door seals really good. Pulled them off and cleaned under them too !
Never got around to vacuum cleaning or cleaning the glass.
Had to keep letting the dog outside and made sure he ate the dinner of chicken livers that Mom fried up for him too.
Becky and Bill came home around 6 PM. Mom and I went to the grocery to get some food for tomorrow. We stayed up until about midnight.
Becky and Bill had to go to a housewarming party in the afternoon. That is when I used dressing on all of the vinyl and cleaned the door seals really good. Pulled them off and cleaned under them too !
Never got around to vacuum cleaning or cleaning the glass.
Had to keep letting the dog outside and made sure he ate the dinner of chicken livers that Mom fried up for him too.
Becky and Bill came home around 6 PM. Mom and I went to the grocery to get some food for tomorrow. We stayed up until about midnight.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Wilmington, NC
Today Becky and Bill took me up to Hampstead to see the house they are having built. They are so excited about doing this. On the way up we stopped at J Michael's Philly Deli and ate.
We walked around the model house and talked to the salesman, Andrew Urban. Then we went to their lot to inspect the framing for their concrete slab foundation and see their lot line. It is a small lot. Drinking water comes from a well, the sewer goes to a small treatment plant down slope from all of the houses. The yards are watered with reclaimed water from the sewage. Yum. Dunno if I even want to walk in that yard now.
On the way back we cut down Military Cutoff because they wanted to show me the new Mayfaire shopping complex that has sprung up on the farm where people used to get mushrooms at night ! It is a very big shopping center. I can't understand what all of these new people do for work to afford all of these new and expensive houses.
Marri and Kevin's dog was spending the weekend with Becky and Bill too because Marri, Kevin, Steve and Susan went to Charlotte to go to the races. That dog, Duncan, is spoiled. Mom slept on the couch each night so that the dog could sleep in her bed !
We walked around the model house and talked to the salesman, Andrew Urban. Then we went to their lot to inspect the framing for their concrete slab foundation and see their lot line. It is a small lot. Drinking water comes from a well, the sewer goes to a small treatment plant down slope from all of the houses. The yards are watered with reclaimed water from the sewage. Yum. Dunno if I even want to walk in that yard now.
On the way back we cut down Military Cutoff because they wanted to show me the new Mayfaire shopping complex that has sprung up on the farm where people used to get mushrooms at night ! It is a very big shopping center. I can't understand what all of these new people do for work to afford all of these new and expensive houses.
Marri and Kevin's dog was spending the weekend with Becky and Bill too because Marri, Kevin, Steve and Susan went to Charlotte to go to the races. That dog, Duncan, is spoiled. Mom slept on the couch each night so that the dog could sleep in her bed !
Friday, May 27, 2005
Wilmington, NC
This morning I had a job interview with FER at 11 AM. I met Debbie and Faye at the office in Orlando and waited in the test kitchen until Craig Hodges arrived. I looked at some of the equipment we offer while I waited.
We went to Olive Garden at Millenia Mall just across I-4 from the office. I had the soup and salad while everyone took turns asking me questions about what I could do, what my goals were, expectations, questions, background, etc. This really seems like a nice group of people. Craig has a Toyota Camry with a GPS map on the dashboard that shows you where the car is as you drive. I thought that was pretty cool.
Craig was especially interested to hear that I could make drawings with AutoCAD. He wants to start performing some kitchen design work and presenting the drawings as CAD drawings. If we can get the factory drawings as CAD files, we can drop the equipment into the floor plans as blocks.
I thanked them for lunch and started back to Kissimmee to get out of that hot wool suit.
Got home around 1330... decided that I wanted to go to NC for the long weekend. So I began throwing clothes into a bag, packed my phone and Wired magazine (you know you will be bored at Becky and Bill's), and got out of Dodge.
As I was heading up to Daytona, my cellphone rang. It was Fay Lewis at FER. They decided that they wanted to offer me the job ! Coolness. Later I got calls from Craig too. First day will be June 1. I called Betsy and told her, she was happy for me.
On I-95, a carload of girls had a blowout right in front of me. Flapping tire was tearing up the back of her car too ! I had to go through Jacksonville during rush hour and that kinda slowed me down some.
While I was speeding across South Carolina, I passed a deer standing right at the edge of the highway. My headlights just lit it up as I streaked by. THAT scared me ! I thought it was going to step right out.
Got into Mom's at 12:05 AM... called on my cellphone, "Hey, come let me in!" Needless to say, she was surprised to see me.
We went to Olive Garden at Millenia Mall just across I-4 from the office. I had the soup and salad while everyone took turns asking me questions about what I could do, what my goals were, expectations, questions, background, etc. This really seems like a nice group of people. Craig has a Toyota Camry with a GPS map on the dashboard that shows you where the car is as you drive. I thought that was pretty cool.
Craig was especially interested to hear that I could make drawings with AutoCAD. He wants to start performing some kitchen design work and presenting the drawings as CAD drawings. If we can get the factory drawings as CAD files, we can drop the equipment into the floor plans as blocks.
I thanked them for lunch and started back to Kissimmee to get out of that hot wool suit.
Got home around 1330... decided that I wanted to go to NC for the long weekend. So I began throwing clothes into a bag, packed my phone and Wired magazine (you know you will be bored at Becky and Bill's), and got out of Dodge.
As I was heading up to Daytona, my cellphone rang. It was Fay Lewis at FER. They decided that they wanted to offer me the job ! Coolness. Later I got calls from Craig too. First day will be June 1. I called Betsy and told her, she was happy for me.
On I-95, a carload of girls had a blowout right in front of me. Flapping tire was tearing up the back of her car too ! I had to go through Jacksonville during rush hour and that kinda slowed me down some.
While I was speeding across South Carolina, I passed a deer standing right at the edge of the highway. My headlights just lit it up as I streaked by. THAT scared me ! I thought it was going to step right out.
Got into Mom's at 12:05 AM... called on my cellphone, "Hey, come let me in!" Needless to say, she was surprised to see me.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
Yesterday evening the secretary at Azimuth Surveying and Mapping called to tell me the CAD Tech position had been filled. I'm like, "What? You guys didn't even give me a chance to interview!" So, I did not have to go to Winter Garden today to interview. Infact, I did not do very much of anything today. Atleast I am starting to get over my cold now. I think the Nyquil helped.
Tomorrow at 11 I am meeting Craig Hodges and Fay Lewis at FER to interview for Didi Palmeri's position. Didi is moving to Ocala and won't be working at FER any longer. Sounds like this could be a pretty cool place to work. It is an inside sales rep job. Since I am very familiar with one of their biggest customers already, I should have no trouble settling in.
Went for a drive this morning. As I was coming east up I-4 I saw a billboard advertising the upcoming Gay Days in Orlando. I don't have money for theme park tickets, but I should get a red t-shirt and have fun with it anyway. My friend from the Navy, Scott Douglass, will be down for the fun and he wants to have dinner one of those days.
I just checked my mail. I got this month's issue of Wired magazine and my last pay stub from Hi-Tec Associates. I should have enough money to pay the June apartment rent and June storage fees. If I could just get my junk moved down here, that would be another $190 a month freed up.
The pear seeds that I saved and planted in a plastic cup are sprouting ! I have two plants coming up. In five or six years I could be picking my own fruit.
Ignorance is bliss, but it will never replace sex. -- Robert A. Heinlein
Tomorrow at 11 I am meeting Craig Hodges and Fay Lewis at FER to interview for Didi Palmeri's position. Didi is moving to Ocala and won't be working at FER any longer. Sounds like this could be a pretty cool place to work. It is an inside sales rep job. Since I am very familiar with one of their biggest customers already, I should have no trouble settling in.
Went for a drive this morning. As I was coming east up I-4 I saw a billboard advertising the upcoming Gay Days in Orlando. I don't have money for theme park tickets, but I should get a red t-shirt and have fun with it anyway. My friend from the Navy, Scott Douglass, will be down for the fun and he wants to have dinner one of those days.
I just checked my mail. I got this month's issue of Wired magazine and my last pay stub from Hi-Tec Associates. I should have enough money to pay the June apartment rent and June storage fees. If I could just get my junk moved down here, that would be another $190 a month freed up.
The pear seeds that I saved and planted in a plastic cup are sprouting ! I have two plants coming up. In five or six years I could be picking my own fruit.
Ignorance is bliss, but it will never replace sex. -- Robert A. Heinlein
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
First and Last Day at Holiday Villas
This morning I drove down to Royal Palm Bay to start my day at Holiday Villas. John and I talked in his office until about 8 AM, when Kathy, his admin assistant, arrived. Then I went up to the clubhouse to meet Greg, the maintenance manager.
I sat in the suffocatingly small office while Greg gave out the work assignments to the guys in pairs. After that we began to get Greg's stuff out of the office so that he can move to his new office next to John. The only things I heard from Greg and his workers is how messed up the units are, how much work they require, and how busy I will be keeping them supplied with paint, lumber, furniture, and other supplies. We began to throw alot of junk away too... lots of junk.
I was pouring sweat as I did all this. This cold really has me beat down. Tired easily.
After one of my trips to the dumpster I went to the truck to get a bottle of water and check my voice mail. A message was left from Robert at Azimuth Surveying and Mapping. He wanted me to call him back to discuss my resume and professional goals. So I called him right there. We talked for a few minutes about the work I did at Contractors & Engineers Services, and a little about my Navy nuclear power work. He politely thanked me and told me that they were just collecting resumes and calling the guys for now. They would be intouch with me if they were interested.
Back to the parts room to sort more stuff out. That job is so big it looks hopeless. It is even worse when you are sick and tired.
At noon I told Greg I was going to get lunch. I went and told John that I just could not do it and that I thought we both made a mistake. I told him I was going to get something to eat, but I did not go back. I came home and layed down for a nap.
At 3:30 PM my phone rang, but I did not get up fast enough to answer it. It was Robert at Azimuth Surveying and Mapping again ! I did a quick Internet search to find their address, put that into Mapquest to find out where they are, then called him back. He wants me to come in for an interview on Thursday at 10 AM !
As a precaution, I unpacked my laptop computer (my only working copy of AutoCAD is on that one), and began to review boundary surveys. Hey, I might be asked to show them what I can do!
He asked me how I felt about driving all the way to Winter Garden everyday to work. I told him that the Florida Turnpike would make short work of that, but if I had to come up 535, it would become quite a hike (all those stoplights).
I suppose I will have an interview at FER on Thursday or Friday also. Craig Hodges returned from Chicago today, but he has an opening in Tampa tomorrow. He told me to e-mail questions about the job to him, but then he did not give a reply because Didi's position was part-time and this new position is full-time. It is so funny how all of these leads opened up suddenly. I guess I should call Carol at ASAP and see if they have heard from their client, Core Cast Prestressed Concrete, about my candidacy too.
Sorry I don't have any links for you to view today. Really did not have time to surf alot today. Besides, I feel like poop.
"The diesel engine can be fed with vegetable oils and would help considerably in the development of agriculture of the countries which use it." -- Rudolf Diesel, 1911
I sat in the suffocatingly small office while Greg gave out the work assignments to the guys in pairs. After that we began to get Greg's stuff out of the office so that he can move to his new office next to John. The only things I heard from Greg and his workers is how messed up the units are, how much work they require, and how busy I will be keeping them supplied with paint, lumber, furniture, and other supplies. We began to throw alot of junk away too... lots of junk.
I was pouring sweat as I did all this. This cold really has me beat down. Tired easily.
After one of my trips to the dumpster I went to the truck to get a bottle of water and check my voice mail. A message was left from Robert at Azimuth Surveying and Mapping. He wanted me to call him back to discuss my resume and professional goals. So I called him right there. We talked for a few minutes about the work I did at Contractors & Engineers Services, and a little about my Navy nuclear power work. He politely thanked me and told me that they were just collecting resumes and calling the guys for now. They would be intouch with me if they were interested.
Back to the parts room to sort more stuff out. That job is so big it looks hopeless. It is even worse when you are sick and tired.
At noon I told Greg I was going to get lunch. I went and told John that I just could not do it and that I thought we both made a mistake. I told him I was going to get something to eat, but I did not go back. I came home and layed down for a nap.
At 3:30 PM my phone rang, but I did not get up fast enough to answer it. It was Robert at Azimuth Surveying and Mapping again ! I did a quick Internet search to find their address, put that into Mapquest to find out where they are, then called him back. He wants me to come in for an interview on Thursday at 10 AM !
As a precaution, I unpacked my laptop computer (my only working copy of AutoCAD is on that one), and began to review boundary surveys. Hey, I might be asked to show them what I can do!
He asked me how I felt about driving all the way to Winter Garden everyday to work. I told him that the Florida Turnpike would make short work of that, but if I had to come up 535, it would become quite a hike (all those stoplights).
I suppose I will have an interview at FER on Thursday or Friday also. Craig Hodges returned from Chicago today, but he has an opening in Tampa tomorrow. He told me to e-mail questions about the job to him, but then he did not give a reply because Didi's position was part-time and this new position is full-time. It is so funny how all of these leads opened up suddenly. I guess I should call Carol at ASAP and see if they have heard from their client, Core Cast Prestressed Concrete, about my candidacy too.
Sorry I don't have any links for you to view today. Really did not have time to surf alot today. Besides, I feel like poop.
"The diesel engine can be fed with vegetable oils and would help considerably in the development of agriculture of the countries which use it." -- Rudolf Diesel, 1911
Monday, May 23, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
Went to the Holiday Villas office this morning and waited until 8 AM. John never came in. I went inside and asked if he was in and they told me he was down at Royal Palm Bay in his office. I drove down and walked the property and saw that they have turned one of the units near the back into an office. It was very hot outside and since Saturday night I have had a cold. I did not feel very good, so I went back home and took a nap for two hours.
At 10:30 I got up and drove to Disney and DC-2 to have lunch with the gang. Betsy is back from Hong Kong again and she brought liquor for me ! A tall bottle of imported Italian lemon-flavored liqour and a 6-pack of mini-bottles with "Singapore Sling" in them. Evidently Betsy went down to Singapore on one of her weekends. Matt went and got the van and we drove over to Olivia's for lunch. I think Betsy talked the most, but that is understandable -- she just returned from Hong Kong, was excited, and had a lot to share with us.
Betsy's oldest daughter is pregnant and the child is due in June, but I think it is a full moon, and Betsy got a call on her cell phone telling her that her daughter has been taken to the hospital. Maybe it will be a couple weeks early.
I was driving home down 192 and my cellphone rang. It was Betsy. She called to tell me that she found a job for me ! I was shocked to hear her say that Didi Palmeri resigned from FER this morning. She told Fay Lewis, "Well, I think I know somebody who would be an excellent candidate for that job!" Hahahaha !! When I got home I called Fay and we talked for about half an hour, she was encouraging me to fax the resume over and send it by e-mail to Craig Hodges. Craig is in Chicago at a restaurant equipment show, but he checks his e-mail. Fay sounded very optimistic about my chances. Who knows ? I AM familiar with the Disney customer!
Went back out into the heat to fax my cover letter, resume, Betsy's recommendation letter and my references from Office Max, then I went to Target and got another pair of slacks, three shirts, a 9-inch electric fan (turned the air conditioning up some more now), and an 8 - D cell Coleman lantern (hurricane preparation).
When I came home I washed the new shirts, and started smoking the ribs I bought yesterday. The ribs smoked for 2 hours and 15 minutes. Then I put them on a cookie sheet, brushed barbeque sauce on them, and put them into the oven for two more hours. Meanwhile I pressed my new shirts, checked the mail, and got ready for work.
John Tucker wants me to come down to his new office at Royal Palm Bay in the morning. Will meet Greg, the maintenance manager, and get started. I wonder how long I will be here before a better offer comes along ?
These past couple of days, besides reading depressing political columns, I managed to click on these items:
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." -- Bertrand Russell
At 10:30 I got up and drove to Disney and DC-2 to have lunch with the gang. Betsy is back from Hong Kong again and she brought liquor for me ! A tall bottle of imported Italian lemon-flavored liqour and a 6-pack of mini-bottles with "Singapore Sling" in them. Evidently Betsy went down to Singapore on one of her weekends. Matt went and got the van and we drove over to Olivia's for lunch. I think Betsy talked the most, but that is understandable -- she just returned from Hong Kong, was excited, and had a lot to share with us.
Betsy's oldest daughter is pregnant and the child is due in June, but I think it is a full moon, and Betsy got a call on her cell phone telling her that her daughter has been taken to the hospital. Maybe it will be a couple weeks early.
I was driving home down 192 and my cellphone rang. It was Betsy. She called to tell me that she found a job for me ! I was shocked to hear her say that Didi Palmeri resigned from FER this morning. She told Fay Lewis, "Well, I think I know somebody who would be an excellent candidate for that job!" Hahahaha !! When I got home I called Fay and we talked for about half an hour, she was encouraging me to fax the resume over and send it by e-mail to Craig Hodges. Craig is in Chicago at a restaurant equipment show, but he checks his e-mail. Fay sounded very optimistic about my chances. Who knows ? I AM familiar with the Disney customer!
Went back out into the heat to fax my cover letter, resume, Betsy's recommendation letter and my references from Office Max, then I went to Target and got another pair of slacks, three shirts, a 9-inch electric fan (turned the air conditioning up some more now), and an 8 - D cell Coleman lantern (hurricane preparation).
When I came home I washed the new shirts, and started smoking the ribs I bought yesterday. The ribs smoked for 2 hours and 15 minutes. Then I put them on a cookie sheet, brushed barbeque sauce on them, and put them into the oven for two more hours. Meanwhile I pressed my new shirts, checked the mail, and got ready for work.
John Tucker wants me to come down to his new office at Royal Palm Bay in the morning. Will meet Greg, the maintenance manager, and get started. I wonder how long I will be here before a better offer comes along ?
These past couple of days, besides reading depressing political columns, I managed to click on these items:
- An amusing computer screen cleaner. It really works too !
- Now scientists want you to get sun, 15 min a day, three days a week, without sunscreen to help you fight cancer !
- Eat Hufu -- the healthy alternative to human flesh ! I thought to myself, "Omigod, is this real?" It is.
On the 78th day of a 60-day road show, the president's nationwide Social Security tour has the feel of a past-its-prime Broadway production that has been held over while other, newer shows steal the spotlight.People aren't buying this shit. Alot of people are starting realize that this man is a liar and his real goal is to kill social security, not fix it. Minor changes to taxes and benefits are all that are needed to shore this program up.
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." -- Bertrand Russell
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
This picture is sorta like what I see when I see hot air balloons going up on my way to work. Just superimpose this view onto a Las Vegas-esqe Kissimmee commercial strip of run down hotels and restaurants.
Incredibly, I did not do very much this weekend. On Saturday I did my laundry and I went to Target to buy bottled water and a new pair of pants for work. After that I vegged for the rest of the day.
I got some 2 5/8-inch labels and started a new address book, putting each entry onto a label and sticking them into the book. It is very neat and clean. I needed to do this since my PalmPilot died.
Lastnight I saw Ron in the chatroom and he invited me over. I went over to his place around 9:30. We drank raspberry vodka and Coke - he thought it tasted like Cherry Coke, I didn't. We watched Sex and the City and somekinda subway stories thing on Showtime. Then we drank Disarrono and Coke. Now THAT tastes like Cherry Coke !
Today I did not do very much either. I and reading Isaac Asimovs Understanding Physics - a three-volume set printed in one book. It is a good review of basics.
Pressed my white shirt so it is ready for an interview on short notice.
Went to Save Rite and bought some fruit and vegetables. Just spent $56. They had beef ribs for $1.59 a pound so I bought a package of those too. They are so big I am afraid they won't all fit in the smoker. Maybe I will just freeze the rest of them.
Tomorrow I start my new job. I hope I like it. Because if it does not pay very well, you should atleast enjoy what you are doing!
"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own" -- Thomas Jefferson
Incredibly, I did not do very much this weekend. On Saturday I did my laundry and I went to Target to buy bottled water and a new pair of pants for work. After that I vegged for the rest of the day.
I got some 2 5/8-inch labels and started a new address book, putting each entry onto a label and sticking them into the book. It is very neat and clean. I needed to do this since my PalmPilot died.
Lastnight I saw Ron in the chatroom and he invited me over. I went over to his place around 9:30. We drank raspberry vodka and Coke - he thought it tasted like Cherry Coke, I didn't. We watched Sex and the City and somekinda subway stories thing on Showtime. Then we drank Disarrono and Coke. Now THAT tastes like Cherry Coke !
Today I did not do very much either. I and reading Isaac Asimovs Understanding Physics - a three-volume set printed in one book. It is a good review of basics.
Pressed my white shirt so it is ready for an interview on short notice.
Went to Save Rite and bought some fruit and vegetables. Just spent $56. They had beef ribs for $1.59 a pound so I bought a package of those too. They are so big I am afraid they won't all fit in the smoker. Maybe I will just freeze the rest of them.
Tomorrow I start my new job. I hope I like it. Because if it does not pay very well, you should atleast enjoy what you are doing!
"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own" -- Thomas Jefferson
Friday, May 20, 2005
Last Day at Disney
This morning I saw two hot air balloons going up in the west as I drove in to work. I got my farewell letter written and saved it as a draft. Worked through the change orders, then placed two or three new orders. Did not take very long.
At 8:30 I got an e-mail message from one of the foods guys inviting me to watch the Disney Cruise Line's Magic passing through the Gatun Locks on the northern end of the Panama Canal. He included a link to the Panama Canal webpage where there were webcams pointing at the locks ! Very cool !
After that I showed Moe how to do a new vendor setup in SAP, and how to fax the W-9 to A-P Vendor Team and how to send the insurance certificate to Scott Rogers. Then we went to Goodings to get some lunch. We bought salads and then came back to the break room and ate while the news was on. I think Peggy had lunch with her husband today.
Here are the links that I found interesting today:
Set permission for Betsy to view the contents of my Inbox in Outlook and I forwarded my phone to Peggy. Then I sent my farewell message out, set my out-of-office alert notice. Before I left 7 people had responded ! Matt came back into my office, "Well, now you have everyone all sad. Somebody reminded me that I have to get your ID card." I quipped,"Uh huh, doesn't sound like everybody was sad!" LOL !!
I left around 3:45. Matt said I could go ahead and go because I deserved it. I think the real reason is because Davida was out today. So I came home early and missed most of the traffic.
Fried the steaks that have been marinating in my fridge for the past 48 hours. Yum... they turned out good.
Not sure if I am going out tonight or not -- I really have to start being careful with how I spend my money. It is going to be tight with what this new job pays.
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." -- Galileo Galilei
At 8:30 I got an e-mail message from one of the foods guys inviting me to watch the Disney Cruise Line's Magic passing through the Gatun Locks on the northern end of the Panama Canal. He included a link to the Panama Canal webpage where there were webcams pointing at the locks ! Very cool !
After that I showed Moe how to do a new vendor setup in SAP, and how to fax the W-9 to A-P Vendor Team and how to send the insurance certificate to Scott Rogers. Then we went to Goodings to get some lunch. We bought salads and then came back to the break room and ate while the news was on. I think Peggy had lunch with her husband today.
Here are the links that I found interesting today:
- The 50 Worst Hairstyles of all time. Funny !
- "The female orgasm", she said, "is just for fun."
- Water filtration with terracotta clay, a compliant cow, and a match.
- A religeous, conservative college in Michigan protests Bush's appearance at their commencement. I was surprised to see that one.
- Raiders of the Lost Ark... No, for real !
- Retire the damned thing already. The entire machine was a compromise.
- Good news in the world of stem cell/cloning technologies this week.
- Cut electric bills and still keep your home cool this summer.
- Interesting and challenging Brain Candy.
Set permission for Betsy to view the contents of my Inbox in Outlook and I forwarded my phone to Peggy. Then I sent my farewell message out, set my out-of-office alert notice. Before I left 7 people had responded ! Matt came back into my office, "Well, now you have everyone all sad. Somebody reminded me that I have to get your ID card." I quipped,"Uh huh, doesn't sound like everybody was sad!" LOL !!
I left around 3:45. Matt said I could go ahead and go because I deserved it. I think the real reason is because Davida was out today. So I came home early and missed most of the traffic.
Fried the steaks that have been marinating in my fridge for the past 48 hours. Yum... they turned out good.
Not sure if I am going out tonight or not -- I really have to start being careful with how I spend my money. It is going to be tight with what this new job pays.
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." -- Galileo Galilei
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
Yum, yum !! Cock-flavored soup ! Does it have noodles in it ? Hahahaa!! Silly question ! Of course it has noodles ! BIG NOODLES !!
Yesterday I saw some of the hot air balloons going up in the morning as I was driving in to work.
Another so so day. At lunch I went to Peggy's door and asked her if she brought lunch. She said, "No". I told her, "Hang it up, c'mon let's go. If you sit there, that phone is gonna ring and you will be stuck her for two more hours."
We went to Panera Bread on Sand Lake Road for lunch. She thanked me for making her get out of there -- it was just what she needed.
In the afternoon my telephone began ringing. A couple of placement agencies phoning about the resume I sent to them. The first company decided that I was not really qualified for an AutoCAD job, but the second company invited me to come in. I told Matt I would need a long lunch today, he said, "No problem."
I left work early yesterday -- around 4 so that I could go to the UPS distribution center to pick up a DVD that the driver could not leave at my door. It was clear over by the airport. I cut down Turkey Lake Road to the Central Florida Parkway, took that to Orange Blossom Trail, turned north for a few blocks, then got on Landstreet Road and took it out to the UPS. After that stop I continued east on Landstreet to Boggy Creek Road and followed Boggy Creek south to the Osceola Parkway. Took that west to Dyer and followed Dyer around until I was home. It was a long trip.
It was a little late and the Internet service was messed up lastnight so I did not blog.
The news shows Tropical Storm Adrian heading northeast toward Central America... it will be in the Caribbean this weekend. Great... Hurricane Season hasn't even started yet.
These past two days I only found a few items worthy of being on my list here:
At noon I took off for my appointment at ASAP. I went I-4 to the 528 Bee Line to 436 (Semoran Blvd). I was over there in 20 minutes. Course, it cost me $1.50 in two tolls.
They had me fill out an application, W-4, I-9, etc etc. Then I interviewed with Carol. The company she is thinking about putting me infront of needs an Admin Assistant who can make AutoCAD drawings. This company makes large precast panels and beams for buildings and parking garages - Core Cast. I have passed that plant many times as I head north up the Turnpike.
After my interview, they had me take a battery of computer-based tests - typing, admin skills, MS Word, and MS Excel. The Word and Excel tests were HARD ! I felt miserable after taking each one because I was messing so many questions up. One girl got upset, threw her stuff down and stomped out !!
Well I found out that I can type 59 WPM at 99% accuracy (thank-you Internet chat!) and my admin skills are good. I told the girl not to laugh when she pulled up my Word and Excel scores. She said, "Well, we have very hard tests, so you didn't do as bad as you think. In fact, your scores show that you are Intermediate to Expert level on Word and Excel!" Damn.
I expect to be called for an interview at Core Cast sometime next week. Just gotta figure out how to hide the interview from my day job -- the one I have waiting for me at Holiday Villas. I feel bad about it, but if someone is willing to pay more... well... I have to do it.
Was back at the office about 30 minutes after I left ASAP. But I spent more time there than I realized. Was back at 4 PM, nobody said a word.
There were 8 change orders waiting in my e-mail and some voice messages on the phone when I got back, but I had that all taken care of in half an hour.
Chatted with Judy Wells, the FAM accounting lady, in the parking lot for awhile after work. Then I stopped at Shell and bought a tank of gas before finally coming on home.
Sis tells me that book I sent to Jordan on Monday arrived in Newport News today. That was pretty speedy ! Don't expect that at Christmas.
Boy the afternoons sure feel like summer now !
Q: What's the difference between Iraq and Viet Nam?
A: Bush had a plan to get out of Viet Nam.
Yesterday I saw some of the hot air balloons going up in the morning as I was driving in to work.
Another so so day. At lunch I went to Peggy's door and asked her if she brought lunch. She said, "No". I told her, "Hang it up, c'mon let's go. If you sit there, that phone is gonna ring and you will be stuck her for two more hours."
We went to Panera Bread on Sand Lake Road for lunch. She thanked me for making her get out of there -- it was just what she needed.
In the afternoon my telephone began ringing. A couple of placement agencies phoning about the resume I sent to them. The first company decided that I was not really qualified for an AutoCAD job, but the second company invited me to come in. I told Matt I would need a long lunch today, he said, "No problem."
I left work early yesterday -- around 4 so that I could go to the UPS distribution center to pick up a DVD that the driver could not leave at my door. It was clear over by the airport. I cut down Turkey Lake Road to the Central Florida Parkway, took that to Orange Blossom Trail, turned north for a few blocks, then got on Landstreet Road and took it out to the UPS. After that stop I continued east on Landstreet to Boggy Creek Road and followed Boggy Creek south to the Osceola Parkway. Took that west to Dyer and followed Dyer around until I was home. It was a long trip.
It was a little late and the Internet service was messed up lastnight so I did not blog.
The news shows Tropical Storm Adrian heading northeast toward Central America... it will be in the Caribbean this weekend. Great... Hurricane Season hasn't even started yet.
These past two days I only found a few items worthy of being on my list here:
- The looming budget crunch threatens to turn the US into Argentina.
- Single Nucleotide-Polymorphisms - SNP's hold promise for disease identification and cure.
- One-inch-thick TV's are on the way from Samsung. Wow.
At noon I took off for my appointment at ASAP. I went I-4 to the 528 Bee Line to 436 (Semoran Blvd). I was over there in 20 minutes. Course, it cost me $1.50 in two tolls.
They had me fill out an application, W-4, I-9, etc etc. Then I interviewed with Carol. The company she is thinking about putting me infront of needs an Admin Assistant who can make AutoCAD drawings. This company makes large precast panels and beams for buildings and parking garages - Core Cast. I have passed that plant many times as I head north up the Turnpike.
After my interview, they had me take a battery of computer-based tests - typing, admin skills, MS Word, and MS Excel. The Word and Excel tests were HARD ! I felt miserable after taking each one because I was messing so many questions up. One girl got upset, threw her stuff down and stomped out !!
Well I found out that I can type 59 WPM at 99% accuracy (thank-you Internet chat!) and my admin skills are good. I told the girl not to laugh when she pulled up my Word and Excel scores. She said, "Well, we have very hard tests, so you didn't do as bad as you think. In fact, your scores show that you are Intermediate to Expert level on Word and Excel!" Damn.
I expect to be called for an interview at Core Cast sometime next week. Just gotta figure out how to hide the interview from my day job -- the one I have waiting for me at Holiday Villas. I feel bad about it, but if someone is willing to pay more... well... I have to do it.
Was back at the office about 30 minutes after I left ASAP. But I spent more time there than I realized. Was back at 4 PM, nobody said a word.
There were 8 change orders waiting in my e-mail and some voice messages on the phone when I got back, but I had that all taken care of in half an hour.
Chatted with Judy Wells, the FAM accounting lady, in the parking lot for awhile after work. Then I stopped at Shell and bought a tank of gas before finally coming on home.
Sis tells me that book I sent to Jordan on Monday arrived in Newport News today. That was pretty speedy ! Don't expect that at Christmas.
Boy the afternoons sure feel like summer now !
Q: What's the difference between Iraq and Viet Nam?
A: Bush had a plan to get out of Viet Nam.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
How do doors recycle ? Something to think about.
Lastnight I got the battery charger out of the closet and hooked it up to the small two-coil electric motor I wound. I started out at 6 volts and 6 amps. With a gentle nudge from my ballpoint pen, the armature began spinning away with the brushes throwing sparks !! Then I reached over to the charger and flicked the switch to 12 volts and 2 amps. The little motor spun up even faster !! Then, the poor thing began to smoke -- it was carrying too much current. I stopped it before it caught on fire, but it burned the insulation off of the 22 gauge wire it was wound out of. Either I need to get a battery which provides much less current, or install a big resistor in series with the motor to keep running it.
Looking for a solid-state oscillator so that I can experiment with radio transmission too... Radio Shack stopped carrying them, but the guy at Radio Shack said there is a place up in North Orlando off of Fairbanks Avenue that has EVERYTHING you can think of electronic. So, I will have to check that out.
Today was a good day at work. I spoke with Ana Velazquez and things continue to go well for her. She is going to have lunch with Peggy and Betsy on Friday, June 3.
I took more stuff down from my office walls, took Betsy's business card file back to her office, re-installed her label printer back on her computer, and cleaned my desk off. I called 9116 and arranged to have my phone voicemail password reset to 6393. Trying to get everything squared away before I go.
Betsy returns to the States at 11:30pm Thursday night, but Peggy said that she is going to try to come to work Friday so that she does not miss me.
The Mad Commenter was confused about my houseplant and asked me what hens and chicks are. Hens and Chicks are a succulent plant known as "Sempervivum", which means "always living", so you can guess that they are pretty hardy.
Some of the things I clicked on today:
"Democrats win when people think" -- Bill Clinton
Lastnight I got the battery charger out of the closet and hooked it up to the small two-coil electric motor I wound. I started out at 6 volts and 6 amps. With a gentle nudge from my ballpoint pen, the armature began spinning away with the brushes throwing sparks !! Then I reached over to the charger and flicked the switch to 12 volts and 2 amps. The little motor spun up even faster !! Then, the poor thing began to smoke -- it was carrying too much current. I stopped it before it caught on fire, but it burned the insulation off of the 22 gauge wire it was wound out of. Either I need to get a battery which provides much less current, or install a big resistor in series with the motor to keep running it.
Looking for a solid-state oscillator so that I can experiment with radio transmission too... Radio Shack stopped carrying them, but the guy at Radio Shack said there is a place up in North Orlando off of Fairbanks Avenue that has EVERYTHING you can think of electronic. So, I will have to check that out.
Today was a good day at work. I spoke with Ana Velazquez and things continue to go well for her. She is going to have lunch with Peggy and Betsy on Friday, June 3.
I took more stuff down from my office walls, took Betsy's business card file back to her office, re-installed her label printer back on her computer, and cleaned my desk off. I called 9116 and arranged to have my phone voicemail password reset to 6393. Trying to get everything squared away before I go.
Betsy returns to the States at 11:30pm Thursday night, but Peggy said that she is going to try to come to work Friday so that she does not miss me.
The Mad Commenter was confused about my houseplant and asked me what hens and chicks are. Hens and Chicks are a succulent plant known as "Sempervivum", which means "always living", so you can guess that they are pretty hardy.
Some of the things I clicked on today:
- Forbes magazine Top 10 Must-Read Tech Stories.
- Knitpro takes uploaded images and converts them into patterns suitable for needlepoint.
- The Internet must finally be complete -- resources for fainting goats.
- Molly Ivins wrote a new column today.
"Democrats win when people think" -- Bill Clinton
Monday, May 16, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
I thought this picture was funny and decided to link it in my blog. I am told that these items were going for 25¢ the following week !
Long, boring, lonely day today. There was a staff meeting this morning, and even though the new girl was invited, I was not. Does not matter, it basically turned into a cost savings lesson for the newbie. From my office I can hear EVERYTHING.
Kevin at Hi-Tec called today asking me to e-mail my latest resume over so that they can get busy looking for another job for me. The dilemma is this: if they find another temp job for me, and it pays 3, 4, 5 dollars more per hour, should I ditch the permanent job that pays a subsistence wage ? Hmmmmm...
Went out at lunch time today to the Post Office. I mailed the book, Personal Finance, to Jordan. Sent it fourth class book rate. Postal clerk said it will arrive in a week, to a week and a half.
It was hot and sunny outside - 89° F. Rolled the windows up after that trip because the radio said there was a good chance of afternoon shower. Of course it did not rain.
Ate a lunch of ribeye steak and green peas. It was tasty enough.
Started going through all of my folders and throwing the things away that are irrelevent. I will have it very organized for Betsy. Tomorrow I am going to take the label printer back to her office and hook it back to her computer, and I will put the biz card book and SAP training books back in her room too.
Read the news at lunch. They are predicting a hurricane season as busy as last year. That will be fun. Then I had a lot of time to click:
"I heard Tom DeLay's blood was in the water and the sharks were circling him, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a metaphor"
Long, boring, lonely day today. There was a staff meeting this morning, and even though the new girl was invited, I was not. Does not matter, it basically turned into a cost savings lesson for the newbie. From my office I can hear EVERYTHING.
Kevin at Hi-Tec called today asking me to e-mail my latest resume over so that they can get busy looking for another job for me. The dilemma is this: if they find another temp job for me, and it pays 3, 4, 5 dollars more per hour, should I ditch the permanent job that pays a subsistence wage ? Hmmmmm...
Went out at lunch time today to the Post Office. I mailed the book, Personal Finance, to Jordan. Sent it fourth class book rate. Postal clerk said it will arrive in a week, to a week and a half.
It was hot and sunny outside - 89° F. Rolled the windows up after that trip because the radio said there was a good chance of afternoon shower. Of course it did not rain.
Ate a lunch of ribeye steak and green peas. It was tasty enough.
Started going through all of my folders and throwing the things away that are irrelevent. I will have it very organized for Betsy. Tomorrow I am going to take the label printer back to her office and hook it back to her computer, and I will put the biz card book and SAP training books back in her room too.
Read the news at lunch. They are predicting a hurricane season as busy as last year. That will be fun. Then I had a lot of time to click:
- Manhole Cover Art - fine sewer art !
- Interesting new invention for making perfect sideburns.
- A story in the New York Times about Orlando's world-famous Parliament House.
- I hope this research pays off. Now we just need a way to make hydrogen cheaply.
- Anonymous web browsing and e-mailing. This could be useful at work.
- Free sound editing software. Fully featured too !
- More science fair experiments sites. Sorta like the scitoys site I posted.
- Daily Kos makes some good points about the armed forces recruiting crisis.
Place a stick of white blackboard chalk in the drawer or jewelry box to absorb the sulfur compounds that cause silver to blacken.Got some smaller - 2 3/4-inch labels to print on. I am going to redo my address book, but I am going to print each address, phone number, e-mail, account number, etc. onto labels and stick them in. It will look good.
"I heard Tom DeLay's blood was in the water and the sharks were circling him, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a metaphor"
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
Tomorrow is the first day of National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Get your muzzles ready !
Stayed in Friday night. I needed the rest.
Saturday was a busy day for me. Groceries, laundry, cleaned kitchen and bath floors, scrubbed the shower. Smoked pork ribs with cherry wood chips. Got my haircut - Joe trimmed up my moustache too. Took a nap in the afternoon and went to Full Moon Saloon in the evening.
Saw Geoff and Bill there. Bill wandered off and let me and Geoff talk. Geoff was wearing a t-shirt from his time in the army with "SSG Guth" stenciled on the front. I guess he is leaving Phoenix now, moving to Milwaukee next. Well, Chicago won't be far away !
Today I made a batch of peanut butter fudge, went to Target to get my bottled water and some AA batteries. Also, picked up some Kraft paper to wrap the book up that I am mailing to Jordan.
I finished reading my book The Long Emergency. It does not look like a pretty time ahead for us. Hopefully it will be gentle.
I repotted the chicks and hens into a larger pot today, and I sewed some seeds from pears in a plastic cup. I would like to grow a couple of fruit trees. I wonder if they will sprout at all ? I think you have to nick the coating on the seed with knife before you plant it.
Played with the idea of going back to the bar tonight, but I did not get a nap, and I need to rest for work in the morning.
It ain't Bill Clinton making me explain "erections lasting more than four hours" to my kids
Stayed in Friday night. I needed the rest.
Saturday was a busy day for me. Groceries, laundry, cleaned kitchen and bath floors, scrubbed the shower. Smoked pork ribs with cherry wood chips. Got my haircut - Joe trimmed up my moustache too. Took a nap in the afternoon and went to Full Moon Saloon in the evening.
Saw Geoff and Bill there. Bill wandered off and let me and Geoff talk. Geoff was wearing a t-shirt from his time in the army with "SSG Guth" stenciled on the front. I guess he is leaving Phoenix now, moving to Milwaukee next. Well, Chicago won't be far away !
Today I made a batch of peanut butter fudge, went to Target to get my bottled water and some AA batteries. Also, picked up some Kraft paper to wrap the book up that I am mailing to Jordan.
I finished reading my book The Long Emergency. It does not look like a pretty time ahead for us. Hopefully it will be gentle.
I repotted the chicks and hens into a larger pot today, and I sewed some seeds from pears in a plastic cup. I would like to grow a couple of fruit trees. I wonder if they will sprout at all ? I think you have to nick the coating on the seed with knife before you plant it.
Played with the idea of going back to the bar tonight, but I did not get a nap, and I need to rest for work in the morning.
It ain't Bill Clinton making me explain "erections lasting more than four hours" to my kids
Friday, May 13, 2005
Friday the Thirteenth
As the 105.1 FM Traffic Report begins they play the Jetson's music...hmmmmm.. ha.. hmmm hmmmmmm... "there is an overturned tractor-trailor on the Florida Turnpike northbound and traffic is backed up 8 miles behind it...." geez. Here is a nice picture of the construction on 192.
Out of all the orders in Betsy's queue, I only had to place one order today. All of the rest were messed up. Guess it really IS Friday the Thirteenth !
Strange thing happened. My cell phone rang and some lady was asking me if I was still looking for job. I guess I applied for a reprographics job a long time ago and they are still trying to fill the job. I expect they will call me next week for an interview. This happened yesterday too, but that was Manpower™ trying to place me in the Rinker Davenport Sandmine... no thank-you.
Reading the news this morning, I came across this:
I thought that was just incredible. 50 years later it is more relevent than the day he spoke it ! Is Ike telling us the Repugs are going away soon?
Other items I clicked and read include:
Today at lunch time Peggy and I went to Bennigan's. I had a Mushroom Swiss Burger. Peggy paid for it, citing all of help I have been to her since Ana left.
When we returned to the office I learn that Betsy is going to be extended on her trip to Hong Kong because Wing Chow is going to be there end of next week and they want her there for something. I am sure she is not happy about that either.
Yeah, Matt really likes the new girl. He even let her order stuff out of the Office Depot catalog. Yeah, let ME try that shit.
Signed my checking account up for Web Bill Pay at Navy Federal. As long as you pay three bills a month with it, it remains free. If you don't you get charged $4.95 a month. I have 6 bills I can pay that way.
Also, while I was in the Navy Federal site, I transferred money from checking into savings. Savings is approaching $2000 again. I will need that money.
There were a bunch of accidents on the roads this evening. You could look up and see the TV News helicopters hovering over the various accidents.
I stopped at Shell on the way home and filled the truck gas tank - $20.
Geoff called this afternoon too. I guess that Bill and him are planning on being in Orlando tomorrow night. I will go out, because it will be fun to see him again.
I need to do the usual stuff this weekend - groceries, laundry, wash the truck, get a haircut. Finish the book I am reading through too.
Out of all the orders in Betsy's queue, I only had to place one order today. All of the rest were messed up. Guess it really IS Friday the Thirteenth !
Strange thing happened. My cell phone rang and some lady was asking me if I was still looking for job. I guess I applied for a reprographics job a long time ago and they are still trying to fill the job. I expect they will call me next week for an interview. This happened yesterday too, but that was Manpower™ trying to place me in the Rinker Davenport Sandmine... no thank-you.
Reading the news this morning, I came across this:
"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are...a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."- President Dwight D. Eisenhower, November 8, 1954
I thought that was just incredible. 50 years later it is more relevent than the day he spoke it ! Is Ike telling us the Repugs are going away soon?
Other items I clicked and read include:
- The Internet Movie Script Database.
- How To Farm Stem Cells Without Losing Your Soul.
- Recent legislation undermines the independent judiciary. Good-bye Constitution.
- Research paper -- Nanotechnology And The Developing World. Interesting !
- Five habits of millionaires.
Today at lunch time Peggy and I went to Bennigan's. I had a Mushroom Swiss Burger. Peggy paid for it, citing all of help I have been to her since Ana left.
When we returned to the office I learn that Betsy is going to be extended on her trip to Hong Kong because Wing Chow is going to be there end of next week and they want her there for something. I am sure she is not happy about that either.
Yeah, Matt really likes the new girl. He even let her order stuff out of the Office Depot catalog. Yeah, let ME try that shit.
Signed my checking account up for Web Bill Pay at Navy Federal. As long as you pay three bills a month with it, it remains free. If you don't you get charged $4.95 a month. I have 6 bills I can pay that way.
Also, while I was in the Navy Federal site, I transferred money from checking into savings. Savings is approaching $2000 again. I will need that money.
There were a bunch of accidents on the roads this evening. You could look up and see the TV News helicopters hovering over the various accidents.
I stopped at Shell on the way home and filled the truck gas tank - $20.
Geoff called this afternoon too. I guess that Bill and him are planning on being in Orlando tomorrow night. I will go out, because it will be fun to see him again.
I need to do the usual stuff this weekend - groceries, laundry, wash the truck, get a haircut. Finish the book I am reading through too.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
Yet another gorgeous Florida day. Sunny and warm, with a high of 88° F. For breakfast I made oatmeal and sliced an apple to fry up with Spenda™ and cinnamon.
Quite a few phone calls today, but getting the orders placed was not hard. One of the first orders I placed was for a 4-burner Garland range for Yacht & Beach. This is to fix the mis-orders that I had in the capital equipment project. Also, Betsy tells me that we do not have to worry about the restocking fee for Hobart-Traulsen coolers, so we can return these to Hobart and order the correct ones.
Moe and Peggy went out at lunch. They invited me, but I am broke, so I stayed in and ate my steak and asparagus at my desk. During lunch I read the news and some of these items:
This evening I made chili with hamburger, onions, instant chili-in-a-can mix, peeled and diced tomatoes, black beans, and sliced olives. It was as always, adequate.
A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes. -- Mark Twain
Quite a few phone calls today, but getting the orders placed was not hard. One of the first orders I placed was for a 4-burner Garland range for Yacht & Beach. This is to fix the mis-orders that I had in the capital equipment project. Also, Betsy tells me that we do not have to worry about the restocking fee for Hobart-Traulsen coolers, so we can return these to Hobart and order the correct ones.
Moe and Peggy went out at lunch. They invited me, but I am broke, so I stayed in and ate my steak and asparagus at my desk. During lunch I read the news and some of these items:
- Rebuild the World Trade Center towers.
- A 70-year-old Florida woman survived a 9-story fall from her apartment .
- Monkeys learn to control robot arm with brain implant... cyborgs ?
- A new weapon that is quiet and devastating. Just what we need.
- This was unusual. A blog of erotic phone sex stories ! Sure makes mine look plain and boring !
This evening I made chili with hamburger, onions, instant chili-in-a-can mix, peeled and diced tomatoes, black beans, and sliced olives. It was as always, adequate.
A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes. -- Mark Twain
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
This is how my "hump day" went:
I slept well lastnight, probably because I bumped the AC back down a little bit. When I got up this morning I made scrambled eggs for breakfast. Then I got my shower.
Called Hong Kong around 7:30... it was 7:30 PM there. Betsy was at the bar in a Ruth & Chris Steakhouse (one of two in Hong Kong) waiting with some other workers for the Hobart executives to join them for dinner. Here is where Betsy is supposed to talk our restocking fee away. She was hungry too -- she did not eat lunch yesterday.
I processed my queue and Peggy's queue. Some accountant bean counter was requesting reports of how much we spent with the Enodis family of companies, so I ran the reports for Garland, Cleveland, Lincoln, Frymaster, Dean Industries, and US Range. Then he wrote back saying that we wanted to know which property spent how many dollars. I went and told Matt. Matt said that we cannot do this and we do not provide that service. So I e-mailed back to him that I did not have time to run those reports and that if he wanted to he could run SAP Transaction Code ME2L or ME3L and filter by vendor number and document date range. Did not hear from him again.
The phones were not as busy today as yesterday. This is good.
The new girl, Moe, worked her own queue today with only a little bit of help. She went to meetings with Peggy and Dawn and she seems really interested in the projects.
For lunch today I had Gorton's™ Cajun Grilled Fish and Green Giant™ Cheese and Broccoli. Yum ! Good microwaved eating. Watched the news while it heated up... some excitement in DC this morning when a small plane flew into the restricted airspace around the White House and Capitol.
Back at my desk I read more news and I clicked on these items:
This evening I fried those steaks that have been marinating for the past two days. These turned out really good... really tasty ! Lipton's™ Onion and Mushroom soup works well in a marinade !
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -- Martin Luther King, Jr
I slept well lastnight, probably because I bumped the AC back down a little bit. When I got up this morning I made scrambled eggs for breakfast. Then I got my shower.
Called Hong Kong around 7:30... it was 7:30 PM there. Betsy was at the bar in a Ruth & Chris Steakhouse (one of two in Hong Kong) waiting with some other workers for the Hobart executives to join them for dinner. Here is where Betsy is supposed to talk our restocking fee away. She was hungry too -- she did not eat lunch yesterday.
I processed my queue and Peggy's queue. Some accountant bean counter was requesting reports of how much we spent with the Enodis family of companies, so I ran the reports for Garland, Cleveland, Lincoln, Frymaster, Dean Industries, and US Range. Then he wrote back saying that we wanted to know which property spent how many dollars. I went and told Matt. Matt said that we cannot do this and we do not provide that service. So I e-mailed back to him that I did not have time to run those reports and that if he wanted to he could run SAP Transaction Code ME2L or ME3L and filter by vendor number and document date range. Did not hear from him again.
The phones were not as busy today as yesterday. This is good.
The new girl, Moe, worked her own queue today with only a little bit of help. She went to meetings with Peggy and Dawn and she seems really interested in the projects.
For lunch today I had Gorton's™ Cajun Grilled Fish and Green Giant™ Cheese and Broccoli. Yum ! Good microwaved eating. Watched the news while it heated up... some excitement in DC this morning when a small plane flew into the restricted airspace around the White House and Capitol.
Back at my desk I read more news and I clicked on these items:
- How To Brew Beer In A Coffee Maker. This cannot be good.
- Free online graph/grid paper PDF's. Bookmark this one, it could be handy to have.
- A couple of articles about spinal cord injury treatments under developement using stem cells.
- Is it time to switch phone companies ? A little-known company has forged an un-holy alliance ! Listen to these recorded conversations.
- Do we really want this man as our ambassador to the UN ?
- Check out this graph of Bush's Approval Rating vs. Terror Alerts. See how we get an alert when his popularity drops ?
- Create your very own church sign !
This evening I fried those steaks that have been marinating for the past two days. These turned out really good... really tasty ! Lipton's™ Onion and Mushroom soup works well in a marinade !
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -- Martin Luther King, Jr
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
Just another beautiful sunny Central Florida day. E-mail this morning from Hong Kong says that Betsy is meeting with executives from Hobart today in HK. She is going to negotiate our restocking fee completely away on the cooler I mis-ordered for Yacht & Beach.
Peggy's queue was completely empty, Betsy's queue had 5 or 6 orders, and then I made Moe place all of the orders in W-40. She will be able to do it all by herself in another day or two.
Spent most of the morning working with Moe and did not even answer my phone. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch. I heated up my steak and peas and ate at my desk.
During lunch I read the news, some opinion columns, and clicked on the following:
Put steaks into a Ziploc™ bag to marinate this morning. They are still in the fridge soaking. I am going to let them go another day. Tonight I am making tuna casserole - the single man's recipe.
Can't wait to dig into my book some more tonight. It is eerie how accurate Kunstler is about what has happened and what is going to come.
"...we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of liberal excess during the past years." -- Hitler
Peggy's queue was completely empty, Betsy's queue had 5 or 6 orders, and then I made Moe place all of the orders in W-40. She will be able to do it all by herself in another day or two.
Spent most of the morning working with Moe and did not even answer my phone. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch. I heated up my steak and peas and ate at my desk.
During lunch I read the news, some opinion columns, and clicked on the following:
- I might have posted this site before. These are very good. Educational !
- You thought habanero peppers were hot ? Chech this hot sauce out.
- Some short lessons to help you think critically.
- Wired reports that stem cells scraped off of human ovaries have been coaxed to produce eggs.
- In related news, the Pill was introduced 45 years ago this month.
- PETA kills animals ! Where does the hypocrisy end ?
- The Amazing Eye Color Calculator... interesting !
When all that is left are the middle seats on the plane, ask the person at the counter if you can be seated between two people with the same last name. Typically they will be family members travelling together and hoping to claim the whole row. If you split them up they will offer you a trade, and you'€™ll wind up by the window or on the aisle.Probably found it too late to help Betsy, but, hey, if you or I remember it, it could be helpful next time one of us flies.
Put steaks into a Ziploc™ bag to marinate this morning. They are still in the fridge soaking. I am going to let them go another day. Tonight I am making tuna casserole - the single man's recipe.
Can't wait to dig into my book some more tonight. It is eerie how accurate Kunstler is about what has happened and what is going to come.
"...we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of liberal excess during the past years." -- Hitler
Monday, May 09, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
Today was okay for a Monday. There were ALOT of orders in W39 and W40, but they were mostly projects for Peggy to place.
Matt introduced the new contract worker to us today. Her name is Moeshka Kashi - "Moe". I had to walk her through her first lessons in SAP™ today. They worked on getting her e-mail and everything else set up. At lunch time Matt escorted her over to Pass & ID to get her card and then they went to lunch together. Gee, Matt never gave ME that much help !
After my work was caught up, I made a long-distance call to New York to speak with Melody at 9D EZ Storage to check on my belongings. Everything is fine up there, no rent increase expected. Melody remembered Mom and asked about her. She is really a nice lady.
I stayed inside all day long, but they say it actually got hot outside today.
Ate lunch at my desk. I had a Lifechoices™ roast beef and green bean meal. Two cheese sticks and a bosc pear for snacks.
After my lunch I read the news and these items:
Made a couple of shoulder steaks this evening and put one into a plastic box with some canned peas for tomorrow's lunch.
I did not blog this yesterday, but I found it this weekend. If you can, you might want to support this organization:
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
518 C Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Telephone (202) 466-3234; Facsimile (202) 466-2587;
E-mail: americansunited@au.org
Radical rightwing Christian fundamentalists taking over our government scares me.
9/11 was the Neocons' Reichstag fire. "Patriot Act" = Enabling Act.
Matt introduced the new contract worker to us today. Her name is Moeshka Kashi - "Moe". I had to walk her through her first lessons in SAP™ today. They worked on getting her e-mail and everything else set up. At lunch time Matt escorted her over to Pass & ID to get her card and then they went to lunch together. Gee, Matt never gave ME that much help !
After my work was caught up, I made a long-distance call to New York to speak with Melody at 9D EZ Storage to check on my belongings. Everything is fine up there, no rent increase expected. Melody remembered Mom and asked about her. She is really a nice lady.
I stayed inside all day long, but they say it actually got hot outside today.
Ate lunch at my desk. I had a Lifechoices™ roast beef and green bean meal. Two cheese sticks and a bosc pear for snacks.
After my lunch I read the news and these items:
- It is believed most of these are captured asteroids.
- There is a bigger market for Imaginary Girlfriends than you would think !
- World statistics - as they happen... how many births, deaths, cars, foods...
- Gannon - White House press correspondent by day, gay male prostitute by night.
- Google went down for 15 minutes Saturday night. Is this news ?
- Preznit Bush doin the Lord's work ? Uhhh, no.
- You have to read this one ! The hypocrisy reaches incredible heights now !
Made a couple of shoulder steaks this evening and put one into a plastic box with some canned peas for tomorrow's lunch.
I did not blog this yesterday, but I found it this weekend. If you can, you might want to support this organization:
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
518 C Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Telephone (202) 466-3234; Facsimile (202) 466-2587;
E-mail: americansunited@au.org
Radical rightwing Christian fundamentalists taking over our government scares me.
9/11 was the Neocons' Reichstag fire. "Patriot Act" = Enabling Act.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Mother's Day
After transferring money back to savings, paying the phone bill and the electric bill, I went and bought groceries and bottled water. Just about broke again.
Got laundry done. Took a nap, and just hung around the house. Only went out to check the mail.
On the way back I decided to drive east out of Hunter's Creek toward Narcoossee to see what was out there. I ended up driving Boggy Creek Road up to the airport, going around the airport and then coming back down. Ended up in downtown St. Cloud. Then I drove home west down 192 and spent the rest of the day at home.
Called Mom for Mother's Day. I guess they went out on the water with Marrissia and Kevin and Duncan. They got sunburned.
Made two Gorton's™ Cajun Blackened Fish Filets and steamed some green beans for dinner. Started reading my new book. Need to lay out my vitamins and get ready for work in the morning.
"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." - Thomas Jefferson
Got laundry done. Took a nap, and just hung around the house. Only went out to check the mail.
- Tried out AT&T's new text-to-voice project. It works pretty good.
- I hope these two school teachers win their lawsuit. It is important that they win.
On the way back I decided to drive east out of Hunter's Creek toward Narcoossee to see what was out there. I ended up driving Boggy Creek Road up to the airport, going around the airport and then coming back down. Ended up in downtown St. Cloud. Then I drove home west down 192 and spent the rest of the day at home.
Called Mom for Mother's Day. I guess they went out on the water with Marrissia and Kevin and Duncan. They got sunburned.
Made two Gorton's™ Cajun Blackened Fish Filets and steamed some green beans for dinner. Started reading my new book. Need to lay out my vitamins and get ready for work in the morning.
"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." - Thomas Jefferson
Friday, May 06, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
I wrote checks to KUA (electric) and Verizon (phone). Transferred $200 from checking back to savings like I promised I would. I have about $200 leftover, but I still need to buy some groceries. I figure I have three more big paychecks left. May as well get the June rent and storage paid early.
For some reason the Technology Team lost Ed Donahue this week and they have a new contractor they are training. Andrea is so sly, she says nice neutral things about how it is all for the best and shit like that... and I lean back in my chair, smile, and I tell her that she is not telling me everything. I know Ed was having a hard time with Andrea, and then I opened his eyes about Rich. I hope everything works out for him.
Speaking of new contractors -- the contractor Matt is bringing in for Ana's commodity starts on Monday. We have ALOT of training to do. She does not know SAP™ .
I had time this afternoon to browse the Internet and I found a few interesting things that I am willing to share:
- The BBC reports that new satellites are still being discovered in our Solar System.
- Scientists are making bacteria behave like a computer.
- Found some directions for building your own Diffusion-Type Cloud Chamber and and Expansion-Type Cloud Chamber.
- As the limits to Moore's Law approach - this will be the future of computing - parallel processing.
- This is a no-shitter -- the US Capitol switchboard toll-free number is 1-877-SOB-U-SOB ! Call those SOB's and give them a piece of your mind !!
- Maybe the offshore tax havens the super-rich are hiding $11.5 Trillion in should be abolished.
- Unorthodox, yes, but I think this guy is a hero for standing up.
- A timeline to the Singularity -- Ha ! That's if the Long Emergency doesn't begin first !
- How To Get Out Of Debt and some related links. Common sense for a world that needs some.
- Instead of static screenshots, use Wink to animate your training.
Not sure if I will go out tonight or not. I have not been out on a Friday in ages. It has litterally been months.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Cinco de Mayo
Today is the first day of The Happiest Celebration On Earth. Disney chose today -- 05/05/05, because the numbers read 50/50/50 backwards and Disneyland is Fifty years old. Here is a picture of fireworks at Snow White's Castle in Disneyland, California.
Rained off and on today, hard at times. I guess it is supposed to thunderstorm some tonight too.
At lunch today I ate the sausages and onions and the tomatoes that I made last night. I am going to have to buy groceries again soon.
Today I read the news and I clicked:
- Google thinks that your broadband connection is too slow. I think it is just about right.
- How To Detect A Housing Bubble. This one is kinda cute.
- I mentioned the KSU massacre yesterday, right ?
- About the Great Firewall of China... "The Internet views censorship as damage and finds a route around it."
- Several right-leaning columnists are concerned about evangelical Christian influence on the GOP.
Is anyone reading these links ? I hand-pick these because I think they are interesting or useful. Do you guys like the pictures I am putting on the blog now ? Leave a comment for me.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Kent State University -- 1970
It rained really hard during the night. Some reported that dime-sized hail came down too. It was raining when I went out to work.
This morning Peggy and Dawn flew out to Las Vegas, Nevada for a convention. That made life back in the office extremely busy for me. The phone was ringing like crazy. Then, for some reason, somebody in Hong Kong switched the fax number for Edward Don to the fax number in their credit department. That caused a huge amount of hate and discontent as we strove to get it changed back.
At lunch I met Ana at Panera's. She is really enjoying her new job. Her work is more complicated than typical Disney projects, but her phone hardly rings, and she is getting paid 30% more for it. She said her benefits are much better too -- her husband's glaucoma medicine cost her $100 with Disney coverage, and it only cost her $15 with Fairfield's coverage.
While we were eating, Mike DiPrato came in with Marty Rufkovitz. Ana was pissed at me because I did not tell her that Marty had a heart attack. Like that is my job ? Geez. Anyway, it was nice to see Marty out getting some more fat and cholesterol for his heart and bloodvessels.
In addition to the SAP issues, our Internet service was running extremely slow today. Metafilter never loaded because it kept timing out. However, I did read the news and I clicked on these articles:
Called Bank Of America about my military Visa card. The interest rate is 12.9% now. It was 7.9% when I started and I wanted to know why. The customer service person did not give me satisfactory answers so I called Dawn about it and she is going to ask at work tomorrow. I would hate to have to transfer the balance again.
My insurance bill is coming soon. I think I either - 1. need to put the insurance out to bid and get quotes from all of the companies, or 2. lower my coverage. They want $499 for six months on my 9-year-old truck.
Hopefully tomorrow will not be as hectic as today was.
This morning Peggy and Dawn flew out to Las Vegas, Nevada for a convention. That made life back in the office extremely busy for me. The phone was ringing like crazy. Then, for some reason, somebody in Hong Kong switched the fax number for Edward Don to the fax number in their credit department. That caused a huge amount of hate and discontent as we strove to get it changed back.
At lunch I met Ana at Panera's. She is really enjoying her new job. Her work is more complicated than typical Disney projects, but her phone hardly rings, and she is getting paid 30% more for it. She said her benefits are much better too -- her husband's glaucoma medicine cost her $100 with Disney coverage, and it only cost her $15 with Fairfield's coverage.
While we were eating, Mike DiPrato came in with Marty Rufkovitz. Ana was pissed at me because I did not tell her that Marty had a heart attack. Like that is my job ? Geez. Anyway, it was nice to see Marty out getting some more fat and cholesterol for his heart and bloodvessels.
In addition to the SAP issues, our Internet service was running extremely slow today. Metafilter never loaded because it kept timing out. However, I did read the news and I clicked on these articles:
- Hungry ? A Pennsylvania restaurant offers a 15-pound burger !
- New evidence suggests that 666 is not Satan's number... it's 616. Satanists are lining up at tattoo parlors to have the upgrade.
- Laura Bush's jokes at the White House Press Correspondent's Party were not well-received by evangelicals !
- Interview with James Gosling, the Father of Java.
- High-speed DNA decoding machines are on the way.
- How To Fold A Fitted Sheet. Mine never turned out this nice.
Called Bank Of America about my military Visa card. The interest rate is 12.9% now. It was 7.9% when I started and I wanted to know why. The customer service person did not give me satisfactory answers so I called Dawn about it and she is going to ask at work tomorrow. I would hate to have to transfer the balance again.
My insurance bill is coming soon. I think I either - 1. need to put the insurance out to bid and get quotes from all of the companies, or 2. lower my coverage. They want $499 for six months on my 9-year-old truck.
Hopefully tomorrow will not be as hectic as today was.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
Hard to believe that I enlisted in the Navy 12 years ago today. Man, the time sure flies ! This morning I saw something that I have not seen in awhile as I was driving to work. I counted about 6 of the hot air balloons going up in the west.
Betsy spent most of today travelling too. She is probably going to work about now. I will have e-mail from her in the morning. In the morning Peggy and Dawn fly to Las Vegas for the rest of the week. I have to process their orders too. Peggy is going to call me each day to check on me and answer any questions I might have. Fun.
My interview at Holiday Villas was today. I went in and talked with the man. He was trying to get me to fill out the application. Before I would do that I explained to him that I needed atleast $13 and hour to get by. He could not promise anything, but said he would ask the owners.
We drove down Poinciana Boulevard to one of the properties where the maintenance office is. Damn. It was a mess. The first couple of weeks would be spent tossing stuff out and getting everything organized. Then parts would have to be inventoried. That was kinda scary.
He kept me for an hour and a half. I stopped at Burger King to get some lunch and then went back to the office. I was not back at my desk 30 minutes when my phone rang. It was John calling with an offer. The owners agreed to $13 an hour. Now he wants to know if I will accept and when I will begin. I told him I needed to sleep on it.
$13 is the bare minimum I need to pay my bills. Even though I would like more, I guess it is better than nothing. Plus, the job is just full of opportunity. I dunno... but I am having lunch with Ana tomorrow at Panera, and I will discuss it with her before I call him back with my answer.
Found time to read the news and I clicked on these links:
With my paycheck I am going to go to Radio Shack and get a few parts to experiment on the things in the Science Toys website (less than $20). Some wire, a 1MHz oscillator, a breadboard, some resistors, some transistors, some capacitors. I want to wind one of his 10-minute electric motors, and the radio projects fascinate me... he makes the radio stuff so easy to understand !
Betsy spent most of today travelling too. She is probably going to work about now. I will have e-mail from her in the morning. In the morning Peggy and Dawn fly to Las Vegas for the rest of the week. I have to process their orders too. Peggy is going to call me each day to check on me and answer any questions I might have. Fun.
My interview at Holiday Villas was today. I went in and talked with the man. He was trying to get me to fill out the application. Before I would do that I explained to him that I needed atleast $13 and hour to get by. He could not promise anything, but said he would ask the owners.
We drove down Poinciana Boulevard to one of the properties where the maintenance office is. Damn. It was a mess. The first couple of weeks would be spent tossing stuff out and getting everything organized. Then parts would have to be inventoried. That was kinda scary.
He kept me for an hour and a half. I stopped at Burger King to get some lunch and then went back to the office. I was not back at my desk 30 minutes when my phone rang. It was John calling with an offer. The owners agreed to $13 an hour. Now he wants to know if I will accept and when I will begin. I told him I needed to sleep on it.
$13 is the bare minimum I need to pay my bills. Even though I would like more, I guess it is better than nothing. Plus, the job is just full of opportunity. I dunno... but I am having lunch with Ana tomorrow at Panera, and I will discuss it with her before I call him back with my answer.
Found time to read the news and I clicked on these links:
- After the US has maxxed out the Asian Express Card the economic train wreck lies just down the tracks.
- In the national news this morning I read about another finger ending up in somebody's food. Isn't this the exact store Becky and Bill get their ice cream at ?
- Use this company to order short runs of custom log books, journals, and notebooks.
- Hitler's nurse just broke 60 years of silence and gave an interview.
- To counter global warming, utilities are studying carbon storage underground.
- Professional athletes obscenely distort their bodies to remain competitive.
- Astronomers have uncovered a little more info about the confirmed extrasolar planet.
- SMART car is ready for US import. Mercedes will follow in 2007.
With my paycheck I am going to go to Radio Shack and get a few parts to experiment on the things in the Science Toys website (less than $20). Some wire, a 1MHz oscillator, a breadboard, some resistors, some transistors, some capacitors. I want to wind one of his 10-minute electric motors, and the radio projects fascinate me... he makes the radio stuff so easy to understand !
Monday, May 02, 2005
Kissimmee, FL
Pictured here is Discovery Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China. In the foreground are condominiums of well-to-do Hong Kong residents, and in the distance you can see the reclaimed land that Hong Kong Disneyland is being built on. Because of all of the restrictions in Hong Kong, the fireworks at HKDL cannot go any higher in altitude than the hills, and the snobby residents of Discovery Bay are already bitching about the sound. Ho hum.
Today was a very busy day. Busy because it is a Monday, and it seemed busier because Betsy's phone is forwarded to my phone.
It was a bright dry day, partly cloudy. I stayed inside all day. I had a Lifechoices meal at lunch.
I had the biggest part of the work done around lunchtime... then I was able to read the news and browse the job boards. During my lunch I clicked some of these links:
Jordan is taking biology next year and I thought the "How To Extract DNA From Any Living Thing" link might make a good project for him.
Tomorrow I have a job interview with Holiday Villas here in Kissimmee. I am going to do that during lunch.
On Wednesday Dawn and Peggy leave for Las Vegas and a convention. I will be in the office by myself, except for Matt, but since he hardly speaks to me, I may as well be alone.
Today was a very busy day. Busy because it is a Monday, and it seemed busier because Betsy's phone is forwarded to my phone.
It was a bright dry day, partly cloudy. I stayed inside all day. I had a Lifechoices meal at lunch.
I had the biggest part of the work done around lunchtime... then I was able to read the news and browse the job boards. During my lunch I clicked some of these links:
- Too bad they didn't have these bikes when I was a kid.
- Cher finally ends her three-year-long farewell tour.
- The Lara Croft look might not be in, but The Peacekeeper handbag might stop a mugging before it even starts !
- The same old physics, but with unconventional explanations.
- It's about time, George Jetson ! Residential pneumatic elevators.
- Scientists now say life on Mars is LIKELY, while NASA is researching ways to make the six-month trip out there as short as one month !
- Science Toys You Can Build With Your Kids... very good detailed directions with photos for making science demos with household parts.
Jordan is taking biology next year and I thought the "How To Extract DNA From Any Living Thing" link might make a good project for him.
Tomorrow I have a job interview with Holiday Villas here in Kissimmee. I am going to do that during lunch.
On Wednesday Dawn and Peggy leave for Las Vegas and a convention. I will be in the office by myself, except for Matt, but since he hardly speaks to me, I may as well be alone.