ironsulfide

Just not a blogger at heart

2005-12-14T19:58:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been way too long (again) and I don't expect anyone is still be reading this blog but things are OK in my life (if anyone was wondering).

No discourse about how the thought of fatherhood is sending me into mass hysteria (because it's not).

No complaining about how my job or my boss is terrible (because, if you think about it, I've got it pretty good even if its terrible at times).

No inspired thoughts of life, the universe and everything (because we all learned that the answer was 42 a long time ago).

Nope, I'm just not a blogger at heart. I've got a lot to say and I was egotistic enough to think that the whole world wide web (Quad Dub for those in the know) would want to hear my thoughts on these issues and many more. Maybe it's the ADHD-factor or maybe it's that I'm not that introspective or maybe I've run out of "down time" at work. It could be a combination of all of these things but what I do know is that I do not write enough to warrant a blog or a faithful readership. Face it, the only reason anybody keeps coming back to read this thing is out of some hope-springs-eternal-thing. They keep hoping I'll write and I keep... well... not writing.

So let's do it thisaway from now on: I will write when and if I am inspired to do so (sort of like right now). Any readers I still have left after this post can feel free to check-in if they wish but I can promise nothing (which is pretty much what I've given so you won't be disappointed). I still read blogs when I have the opportunity but that's about all the involvment I've got time for these days.

It was fun while it lasted.

Maybe it will be again one day.

Thanks for reading.

"I hate..."

2005-10-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

I hate getting sick on Fridays because I know that the weekend is going to plain suck!

I hate sitting through an entire 40-minute presentation at work only to be told that all the information can be found on the companies homepage!

I hate it when I wait until the last minute to think of a Halloween costume and I hate that I do it every single year!

Oh Mexico

2005-10-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I went to Mexico with my church to build a house and Montezuma is exacting his bitter revenge on most of my team.

For reasons unknown, he has spared me.

At least, for now...

A 2nd Family

2005-09-29T14:54:00.000-07:00

Today we had to say goodbye to a colleague. This woman has been our project leader for the past 3 years and in that time became so much more than merely a boss. She became a friend. Although her reasons for moving on are noble and will ensure a better life for her family (she and her husband and her kids will finally get to live in the same state) we will miss her dearly.

This got me thinking about how work is a funny place. We spend more time at work and with our co-workers than we do with our own family. We come to work everyday and spend eight (sometimes more) hours a day with complete strangers. We may try to keep our distance but the dynamics of the workplace demand that they not remain total strangers. We are simply forced into relationship with these people like it or not. Sometimes we get lucky and make friends at work and sometimes... well, we're not so lucky. Still none of that matters because, just like family, you don't have much choice. These co-workers, in a sense, must become members of your 2nd family. It may be a dysfunctional, oh-god-please-stop-sharpening-your-pencils-or-I'll-shove-them-where-the-fluorencent-lights-don't-shine! 2nd family but a family nonetheless.

My colleague (and friend) cried when she told us of her impending departure. Heck, we all cried! This was one of the good ones and we didn't want to let her go away. We've hidden from this moment by immersing ourselves in a bittersweet flurry of party planning, gift buying and contact information exchanging. But now the hour is upon us and we must say our farewells, shake hands and promise to keep in touch. We must let go of one who has touch us deeply.

Today we said goodbye to a friend who was also our colleague and we will miss her dearly.

One Little Word...

2005-09-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

...And my life is changed forever!

Yes, Mrs. Ironsulfide and I have a bun in the oven and are anticipating the arrival some time in May. I plan on doing a lot of smiling and laughing after the "deer in the headlights" look wears off my face.

Lord help us, I'm gonna be a father!

Letter from Ground Zero

2005-09-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

I have a friend that moved to the New Orleans area about 4 months ago. He just sent out an email that tells some of his hurricane experience and, believe it or not, actually has some funny news. I have posted it as it came to me so please excuse the typos and the formatting.

Howdy Y'all -

I'm alive & well in Lafourche Parish (& counting my blessings).... commuting between Thibodaux & Larose. Thibodaux is powered up & there is a little coffee shop across from the house I was shacked up in for the storm that has Internet access... that's where I am right now.I greatly appreciate the prayers & concern of y'all. It obviously worked as I was planning to ride out the storm with my buddy as he had a concrete 2nd story apartment up at the Lakefront. That of course would have been a disaster. When I called him to find out how to get to his house he was halfway to Texas. Thibodaux has probably faired better than anywhere I've seen so far. I've just seen an aerial photo of New Orleans & the house where I was staying is under water (with my passport, birth certificate & green card none of which are waterproof). Last Monday about noon I came out to see what the damage was. I drove down to my trailer in Larose (about 40 miles east of Thibodaux) and practically every tree, plant, gas station roof, electric pylon, telephone pole etc was leaning to the east. All the sugar cane fields (about 75% of the land around here) were flat to the east.... very surreal looking. I was absolutely shocked when I got to my trailer. It was in better shape than ever! All the garbage, bits of timber, old tables & chairs etc that were lying around in the yard were gone, the steps were almost gone, the dilapidated fence was gone & hardly any water anywhere. The bayou looked very tranquil. The last week has been kinda rough, as we didn't have any power. My roommate has lived in CA all his life so he's having a hard time with the heat & humidity. He's has been sleeping in his car every night with the AC running. I don't have that luxury as I only get 15 miles per gallon & gas is already very scarce & expensive. Sleeping in the same car is out of the question as his snoring is diabolical. It's also been quite difficult to get decent food to eat. I finally had a meal today that wasn't fried catfish. I've been working for the last 2 days. The company that I worked for has sustained minimal damage. Some of the sister yards on the Gulf Coast don't even exist anymore. So again I am very fortunate.

I have been able today to talk with some of my friends from NewOrleans.... all are out of town now & some don't have any plans to come back. I talked with a guy a few hours back who stayed in the French Quarter during the storm & he managed to evacuate when the water started rising. The account he gave me was absolutely outrageous & very depressing. I'll not go into it but if it's true then people will take a very long time to recover psychologically from this disaster. I'm planning to go back into the city in a few weeks.I know it's going to be a very weird experience. I guess I'll just wait & see what happens & who comes back & who doesn't.

Thanks for everything,

Peace.

The Age of Innocence

2005-09-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

...is over!

At least when it comes to blogging anyway. My deepest apologies to all my anonymous readers out there but I am no longer allowing comments from the "unregistered" *eeewwwwuuhh!* In the light of recent blog events I have decided that I can no longer continue to believe that the blogosphere is a happy-go-lucky community of folks who just want to live and let live. KMJ's photo blog desecration and FK's spam-like comment posted on his latest entry have moved me to disallow any anonymous, unnamed, unknown and otherwise unblogger-types from leaving comments on this blog. I am sorry but even the blogosphere is a dangerous place and we can be ignorant to that fact no more!

Thank you for your attention

Nothing can be said

2005-09-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

I am left in shock as the stories and the images continue to reveal the total and utter destruction left in the wake of the hurricane. I cannot find any words to describe my emotions and none would due the victims justice.

Please donate and pray for our fellow Americans.

American Red Cross Hurricane Relief

You Can't Stop The Machine

2005-08-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

My friend CZ has finally created a blog to display her artwork. She has a very unique style and is quite talented. Hopefully she will post her photos soon but for now its only paintings and drawings.

Introducing QuarterMachine.

Share the Blove!

"You're full of crap and so am I!"

2005-08-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

I found this article in Relavent Magazine and it hit my nail on its head. Enjoy.

Why I Went Back to Church
by Stephen W. Simpson

For almost five years, I didn't go to church. It was only me and Reverend Bedpost most Sundays. I'd get inspired or guilty once in a while and church shop for a few weeks, but soon I'd be back to hitting the snooze button. I was attending seminary at the time, so I convinced myself that I was getting enough religion during the week. I thought my friends were enough of a "faith community" and I didn't need to practice some banal weekend ritual. But I had another reason for playing hooky from Church that I never told anyone: I couldn't stomach being around other Christians. I thought Christians were completely full of crap.

I'm serious. Imagine us through the eyes of a nonbeliever who didn't grow up in a religious tradition. We do a bunch of weird, ridiculous and sometimes stupid things. That's on a good day. On a bad day, we're downright mean.

Let's begin with the weird part. For starters, we have our own language. We use words like "fellowship," "sanctify" and "discern" in about a hundred different ways. When we pray, we're over-fond of the word "just" and doubling-up on God's name ("Lord God, Lord Jesus, Jesus Lord," etc.). And this is only what garden-variety evangelicals do. Some Christians get downright bizarre, especially when they worship. It's a wonder that we haven't scared away all sensible nonbelievers.

Then there's the ridiculous. First, we have a preoccupation with hokey costumes. Whether it's big hair on TBN, big hats at the Vatican or the mandatory cropped facial hair for male leaders in the Emergent Church, Christians feel compelled to don uniforms that distinguish us from the rest of the world. It's silly and pointless. It's almost as ridiculous as how we behave while singing praise songs. Ever notice that people don't stick their hands in the air because of the words? It happens at the chorus or the bridge of a song, when the music switches to big major chords. I bet you could put the words to the Alphabet song along with the big crescendo in a worship song, and you see just as many palms in the air.

The stupid and mean things flow together on a continuum. On the stupid side, Christians get their tails in a knot about the most irrelevant things. Harry Potter? Please. The whole continent of Africa is getting flushed down the toilet, and the Pope and a bunch of high-profile preachers are worried about a bespectacled British kid on a broom. But stupidity just passes the time for idle Christians. If you cross us on a serious issue, we get mean in ways that would make Michael Corleone blush. If someone offends our moral sensibility or tries to change a law that's close to our hearts, we set an entire cultural machine in motion. We have money, politicians, lobbyists and corporate giants at our disposal. Christians on the ground picket with angry slogans, while Christians in the high-rises of power write checks for lobbyists and politicians. We have no problem thumping pagan skulls when the culture moves in a direction we don't like. As a result, much of the world not only hates us, they're afraid of us.

So why on earth would I want to hang out with these people? I love Jesus with all my heart, but I find His flock annoying. During my self-exile from church, I was picky about the Christians with whom I did "fellowship," and often preferred the company of nonchristians. Why would I want to go to church with a bunch of people so full of crap?

Because I'm even more full of crap. When God revealed that to me, I started going to church again. God had to go out of His way to remind me of this through some humbling experiences, but the proof was there all along. I just got snobby and didn't bother to look.

If Christians use weird language, I need look no further than my job to realize that I do the same. I'm a psychologist. That means I use convoluted, condescending and confusing ways to describe what's common sense and simple. Worse than that, I'm prone to using profanity when I'm out of earshot of anyone who might get offended (and sometimes when I'm not). I'll go out on a limb and say that puts me in no position to judge folks who insert "just" into every other word of a prayer.

I'm also guilty of the ridiculous. I always shop at the same two stores, though I could probably get clothes of the same quality cheaper somewhere else. I get obsessed with video games, even though I'm a 36-year-old man with a wife and four kids. I'm also one of these dorks who'll look for movie spoilers on the Internet months before a film comes out. But I'm perhaps no more ridiculous than when at a rock concert, especially U2. Remember how I slammed other Christians for raising their hands in worship because of a change in the music rather than the words? I do the same thing. I'll stick my hands in the air like a Pentecostal during a rousing point in a U2 song, though I have no idea what the heck Bono is singing about.

I've got stupid and mean down, as well. The stupid part is a sort of reverse-dogmatism. I'm real big on not judging someone, unless I think someone else is judgmental. I'd be willing to extend grace to violent criminal on death row, while passing harsh judgment on a good person whose beliefs I consider too rigid or dogmatic. But that's just when I'm being stupid. I can get mean, too. I'm not talking about "having a bad day" orneriness-I mean vicious. If someone is rude to me on the freeway or in the supermarket, I have no problem retaliating with vigor, sometimes using the aforementioned profanity. I'm good at it, too. I can get nasty and aggressive in ways that few Christians could imagine and none could justify. Though I want to throttle Christians who use terrible names for people when they don't like their lifestyle, somebody needs to throttle me when I give a look that could curdle milk to a stranger who took "my" parking place.

Once God revealed my hypocrisy, it made going to church easier. Church is a good place for people who are full of crap. Being a Christian means that you realize that you're full of crap and that you need help. In fact, we should change the passing of the peace from "Peace be with you" to "You're full of crap and so am I."

Mike Yaconelli once said that church should be a place where we look at each other and say, "What are you doing here?" None of us is good enough to be there. Not one of us is righteous. Progressive types like me give more conservative Christians a hard time for being too "exclusive," but we're just as bad. We get just as easily annoyed and turn our backs on other children of God who don't share our views. It's so much easier to be snide than vulnerable. It's much safer to be sarcastic than expose my heart to someone I don't like. But once I stopped thinking of myself as too cool and took the time to get to know those I'd been judging, I made a shocking discovery. I like other Christians They might act nutty during worship, they're beliefs might be too stinking rigid, and thy might even dress goofy, but I love those folks. They made me laugh, brought me joy and showed me love. That last one humbled me big time.

Yes, Christians are irritating. We can all be weird, ridiculous, stupid and mean. I'm a good example. That's why we have to rely on God to clear our vision, change our hearts, and stop us from being ridiculous, stupid, and mean (I don't think God cares so much about the weird part). If we let God fill us with His love rather than trusting our own assumptions, we will begin to love those who annoy us. We can go from being full of crap to full of grace and love. We get over ourselves and the little things that divide us, learning to see each other as God does. And God loves that person who irritates me just as much as He loves me. If I can remember that, maybe I won't be so full of crap.

[Stephen W. Simpson lives with his wife and four kids in Pasadena, Calif. He attends church often.]

Three Cheers For Foreign Oil!

2005-08-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

Yep, even filling up my Honda is starting to hurt these days.

Perceptions from the mid-cycle review

2005-08-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

It never made sense to me why my office conducts its "mid-cycle" performance reviews in August and then its annual reviews in December.

I mean, hey, I'm no rocket scientist or nuthin' but I do know that August is not mid in this cycle! More like two-thirds or some junk like that! But I digress...

Anyway, I got my review today and it wasn't anything too surprising. My current boss (I've had 2 in the past year) is trying to teach me how to write goals and is telling me how to get more statisfaction out of my job. He also told me that I am "on-track" to a promotion at year's end if I "keep up the good work".

That's all good stuff, but that's not all he said.

Nope, it wasn't all sunshine and cookies this year.

He started to tell me about how, in the officeplace, perception is reality. He told me that it doesn't really matter what the truth of a situation is but only how that situtation is perceived by others. (Uh oh! Red flags and danger and all that!) He then proceeded to tell me that there had been "talk in the office" about the amount of time my co-worker (and good friend) and I had been spending "hanging out" while at work. He assured me that no one had or could complain about the work that we do, the quality, timeliness, etc. becuase we are known for doing our work as requested and usually complete it on-time if not early. And he also told me that he know about the "hurry up and wait" that is so much a part of the job I do. (Believe me, there are some long draughts inheirent to the work I do but when it rains it pours.) "But," he said, "if some one sees that you two are spending a lot of time talking at our desks or at the coffee machine then the common perception of the two of you and your job performance will not be in your favor." He told me that there were some who felt that they were working harder than we were and that, therefore, we must not be working at all. Or at least not very hard anyway. He finished by telling me that he wanted these BS sessions to stop and for us to find work to fill up our down time.

Unfortunately, I couldn't argue with him because he had me nailed. Well, at least on the part about the "hanging out". We did spend too much time doing that and we did need to stop. However, the perception part is a big pile of poopie and I told him so. I told him that it seemed rediculous to me that perceived efficacy is valued higher than actual efficacy. I went on to explain how sitting at ones desk and surfing the web during your down time any different than what we were doing. Yet, because those who are engaged with their computer screens could actually be doing work (whether they were or not was not to be addressed) they are perceived as being more productive and harder workers than those who choose to engage one another. He agreed but that didn't matter since the perception was that we were the ones obviously not working so we didn't get the benefit of the doubt.

And that was that.

My friend and I knew that our freedom wouldn't last forever and, thankfully, we were tipped off to it's impending doom by a empathetic supervisor just before the mid-cycles came around. We changed our behavior and hang out only during our officially sanctioned breaks. The days are emptier than they used to be and boredom is once again a constant companion but at least we are giving off the correct perception now and that's all that matters.

Simply put...

2005-08-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

I like days like today.

Introducing some known "Strangers"

2005-08-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

My friend "Murph" (heretofore addressed as "SIK") and his wife and child sold all of their belongs and headed out to Africa to become missionary teachers. They have had many adventures since leaving and they've only been gone a month!

Before SIK left, I encouraged him to start a blog as a way to express his thoughts as a new missionary is a new land. SIK has always been an inspired writer and I felt that a blog would be a great place to share some of that talent with the rest of blogdom.

Boy am I glad I openned my big mouth!

Please welcome "Strangers in Kenya" into the blogging world. I know that we will not be the same for having him!

I worry that I worry too much.

2005-07-26T20:50:00.000-07:00

There's a bunch of stuff on my mind right now.

I've just spent 2 days in jury duty (not actual sitting on any jury)
Work is slow (and I am starved for a challenge)
I keep running from challenges (go figure)
Mrs. Ironsulfide is in school (thankfully it's the final stretch... yippie!)
I'm in the thick of a backyard/house remodel (and lacking the self-confidence to do anything more than destroy things and then leave them that way)
We're running out of money (as usual)
To move or not to move? (right now it looks like "not to move")
If I do the right thing it will cost me and it's easier to ignore it (for now)
Not yet "grown-up" but sure ain't kid anymore

Sigh...

I don't blog regularly enough (nuff said)

A Mercurian Fool

2005-07-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, KMJ did this thing on her blog so I thought I'd give it a try. Except for a few things I'd say that it's a good description of my characteristics. Of course it did neglect to list that I am also very humble but I'll let that slide (this time!).

Maybe you can give it a go and find out your planetary affiliation.

You Are From Mercury

You are talkative, clever, and knowledgeable - and it shows.
You probably never leave home without your cell phone!
You're witty, expressive, and aware of everything going on around you.
You love learning, playing, and taking in all of what life has to offer.
Be careful not to talk your friends' ears off, and temper your need to know everything.

What Planet Are You From?

Stay tuned for my version of this celestial depiction.

Science Hell

2005-06-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

Right now, I feel like this guy looks.

Only Now Do I Realize

2005-06-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

The Reverend T

This man is (and always has been) a better friend to me than I have been to him. We've known each other for well over 15 years and have been close for most of that time. I have moved from city to city and state to state and despite this fact he has never wavered in his commitment to me as a friend. He truly has been like a brother to me. These days our visits are few and too far between and half the time I don't even return the man's calls but still he hangs in there faithful to the last

Yes, I know that I suck as a friend so don't rub it in!

But now my good friend is moving far far far away and I fear that we well never see each other again. Even though we don't see each other very much at all now it was comforting to know that he was just a hour away and that we "could" spend some time catching up if we wanted to do so. We won't be able to do that anymore.

I think what I am realizing is that I have taken my friendship with The Reverend T for granted and am now having to come to grips with that fact. I am afraid of how our friendship will change now that he lives on the other side of the country (literally) . I am afraid that I may have wasted too much of what was a great friendship and may now have to put up with the annual generic Christmas letter. I know I deserve no more than that.

I don't have any resolution at this moment because I am only just now realizing what I am losing.

Motivation Level Critically Low or Situation Normal

2005-06-20T20:22:00.000-07:00

Whew! It's been a whole month+ since my last post! I never feel like I know what to write or the time just gets away from me. I wish I could just think a post into existence. The would be so much easier.

And so much has gone on too...

Score Update: Dad - 1 / Cancer - 0

2005-05-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

I got the news that my dad is unofficially cancer-free! I say "unofficially" because the doctors still have to put their blessing on it to make it all official-like and recommend the next course of action, but I'm taking all the good news I can get these days.

The pathology report for tissue that was removed from his neck came back negative for cancerous-type material on all counts. Even the two lymphnodes that had appeared to be abnormal in the MRI (and, btw, were the reason this whole surgery was conducted in the first place) showed no signs of cancer. It's a miracle, I tell you! I freakin' miracle!

Dad is in good spirits and is recovering more and more of his strength everyday. Of course, he's a bit put-out by the whole process especially since they found none of the cancer for which they were looking...

"Why'd I have to go through the whole dammed mess if they weren't going to find anything in the end?"

But, we never would have known if he didn't go through the "whole dammed mess" so there's the rub I guess.

We're getting closer to the out skirts of them woods and we'll keep on going until we're blinking in the clear sunlight.

Thanks all, from my family and me, for your prayers, comments and thoughts.

"Be Still and Know", says the Still Small Voice

2005-04-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

Dad's home and recovering as well as anyone can with a hole in their neck. There are still questions to which we do not have answers.

Still no pathology report.

Still don't know if there's cancer.

Still holding our collective breath.

Still waiting under the shadows of "what if's" and speculation.

Still holding fast to the hope that is within.

Can I get a witness!?

2005-04-22T06:40:00.000-07:00

A blow up of my newest profile photo. Enjoy!

Nice Shirt

2005-04-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

Dad was in surgery for almost 5 hours yesterday. He looks good in spite of the ordeal. The doctors said that they didn't see anything abnormal as they conducted the surgery. He did lose a portion of his jugular vein and his muscle, as expected, but his nerve is fine. We're waiting on the pathology report to know if there was in fact any cancer in the tissues that were removed. We're not out of the woods yet but it does feel like the trees are getting thinner.

After almost 5 hours my dad was pretty doped up but that didn't stop him from being himself. He couldn't speak because he was still on a breathing machine but he did write a few things to me...

"Hi"
"Hi, Dad."
"Love You"
"I love you too, Dad."
"Wish I could talk"
"That's okay, Dad, you rest. I'm just glad to see you."

A pause for a few moments.

"Nice Shirt"

I laughed and I could tell that his eyes were laughing too.

Grow up or get out of the way because it's going to happen whether you like it or not

2005-04-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

My dad goes in for surgery tomorrow afternoon.

Cancer...

It's in the lymphnodes and, although things look good for his recovery, the issue gets sticky because of the location of the cancer: his neck. The doctors say that they have to remove all the lymphnodes on the left side of his neck along with a portion of his jugular vein and most likely his sternocleidomastoid muscle as well. He may even lose a portion of his Accessory Nerve (one of the 12 Cranial Nerves). The loss of this will have an effect on his use and sensation of the left side of his neck and lower cheek. Not to mention the fact that his appearance will be different from here on out.

I won't sh** you, it's serious and I'm scared. Starting tomorrow things are going to be very different our family. Dad's life will be changed forever no matter how good the outcome and I don't know how ready I am to deal with that change. I want to run away. Ignore it. Smile, crack a joke and pretend that this will all go away if we just give it some time. But I would be left in the same place I always feel like I've been with that side of my family... standing on the outside looking in because I never would allow myself to get close enough. Keep them all at arms distance for it's too painful to be that close. It's too painful to deal with the messy stuff of life that inherently comes with family relationships.

But have you noticed that everything I've written so far is about ME!? What the hell is my problem that I can't for one moment get my focus off of myself and on to my dad. After all, he's the one with the cancer. He's the one that is having this surgery. He's the one that will have to deal so acutely with all these changes and all I can do is whine about my inability to deal with these things. I don't know if I am ready to deal with the change but the status quo sure the hell hasn't worked for me.

I am going to the hospital to be with my dad tomorrow because he's having surgery. He has cancer and he can't do this on his own. He needs me tomorrow and that's okay because I need him too. We'll get through this together.

Back (but not really)

2005-04-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

I have noticed that the link to my blog missing on some blogs and not others.

It's a fair enough response, I suppose, since I haven't blogged in months and have been silent on all other accounts. I pretty much have dropped of the face of the blogisphere and I guess people got tired of waiting for my return to regular blogging. And I don't blame them. Long term blog silence can be interpreted as a lack of care or concern for the others in the blogging community.

Still, I can't help but feel a little hurt by this space-freeing action. After all, I've been removed from a list.

Cut off...

Deleted...

That stings. I mean, however much I deserved it, it's still a little painful to know that one can be dropped with the click of a button and, thus, removed to the cyber-wastebin.

Here's to knowing that the real friendship is not so easily severed as that cyber version.

As Funkiller always says, "Friends Blog" and I suppose he's right. Peace to all and, with a little luck, a return to regular blogging.

2004-12-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

Santa takes a well deserved break before his big night.

Funny, though... I never would've picked Ol' St. Nick for a cloves type of guy.

Oh well. Merry Christmas!

2004-12-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

I have officially fallen off the face of the planet and my return is TBD.

Sorry readers, but this blogger has to take a break.

Please check back periodically. Thanks.

Cyblog

2004-11-17T14:08:00.000-08:00

If this blog were a robot it would mess you up, man!

Create your cyber identity here

me as toon

2004-11-12T14:19:00.000-08:00

me as toon
Originally uploaded by ironsulfide42.

Cross of Ocean Beach First Baptist Chruch at night

2004-11-11T20:02:00.000-08:00

Cross of Ocean Beach Frist Baptist Chruch at night
Originally uploaded by ironsulfide42.

My friend Mike took this picture and I thought it was cool.

Welcome to Science-Geek-Type-Nerdathon 2004!

2004-10-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

All this week I get to eat and drink on the company dime. Yes, although I haven't had to leave town, I am attending a week-long convention with all the other science-geek-type-nerds in the world (or at least 30K+ of them) and all expenses are paid.

Today I ate breakfast at a quaint little place and then (after wandering around the posters and vendors for a bit) met up with some co-workers for some Indian food. I wonder what I'll have tomorrow? Grande... no! Venti Toffee Nut Latte and a poppyseed muffin? Mexican? Thai?

The sky's the limit and all in the spirit of experimentation. I mean, after all I am a scientist!

Big Brother and Me

2004-10-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

Warning: The following post is a short rant about my day at work. Read with caution and don't ask questions because I can't expound. Big Brother has already gotten a hold of me and has removed much of my brain -- or at least my ability to be a free-thinking individual.

Resistance is futile

"You need to understand that one wrong word can wipe out an entire year of busting your a**."
My Boss

I hate the politics of work!

Why can't you just do your friggin' job and be done with it!? AND why can't the people who's toes you accidentally stepped on come to you personally and confront the situation!?

I personally think that all the conflict resolution guidelines that are set in place by the human resources department are just for show. The reality is that there isn't any resolution and any and all situations can and will come back to bite you in the tush! God forbid we actually talk to one another and deal with the disagreements person to person. Nope! Let's wait until annual review time. Let's let them think that all is well. No, no, that all is great and that they are doing a bang-up job. Then *insert evil laugh here* let's kill 'em with rumors and vague, plausibly deniable comments that were overheard by some one else and discipline reports that exist but without their knowledge. Let's lower the boom on those unsuspecting fools because that is oh so much more fun to watch them writhe and sweat under the pressure!

So, put on that happy face and be careful what you say for Big Brother is watching and in one fell swoop will ruin your day.

Thanks for letting me vent, folks. If you don't hear from me for awhile its because Big Brother has killed me and stuffed my body somewhere deep within that piece of crap corporate sculpture out front.

The Abolition of Me or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Flush Draw

2004-10-04T16:13:00.000-07:00

Well, it all started with reading the NIV instead of the KJV and that lead to drums in worship, R-rated movies and dancing.

The debauchery persisted and the season of pleasure turned from spring to summer to winter. Soon, it just wasn't enough and I had to get more.

This is when, as most of you know now, I turned to drink. Oh, the tender love and care of a batch of homebrew may make a sweet little story but only reveals the truth of just how far I would go...

and have now gone.

Yes, now my turn the to the darker side is complete as I now have... I don't know if I can bring myself to say it... I... I... I have gambled! And liked it!!! Blackjack, craps, poker... horse races! I have bet money and won money and lost money! Oh, the miserable and wretched man that I have become.

Turn away from me and gaze upon this vile sinner no more! Save yourselves from the slippery depths down into which I have fallen! Oh, the folly of my ways! Oh, the shame! THE SHAME!!!

Anyway, if you run up against a Texas Hold 'Em poker player on Yahoo Games (and you recognize the name) you just might be playing against some one you know and love.

Is that a sense of foreboding or is it just gas?

2004-09-30T13:19:00.000-07:00

While at work the other day, I noticed some black and white photographs hanging in a hallway of the new wing. They depict a massive ship in various states of construction. I was appreciating the artistic styling and interesting composition of the photos when the titles caught my eye. Well, it wasn't so much the titles that struck as it was the subject:

Exxon Valdez

I'm not quite sure if there are any implications or connections here but it didn't leave me with a sense that all is well. I hope I'm just over reacting.

Again, not a good finisher.

2004-09-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

I usually blog from my desk at work since it's the only fast internet connection I have available to me. Too cheap to get DSL or cable internet at home...

Anyway, the frustrating thing is that I have started about four (in my opinion) really cool posts, but then I get busy (or, more truthfully, the boss comes over) and I have to stop in the middle of what I'm writing and actually work (the nerve!). These posts never get finished because the moment has passed or the inspiration is just plain gone.

I've tried to blog at home but the stupid dial-up connection is too dang slow and I'm usually too tired deal with it.

Not being able to finish these posts really

three years and a day ago we wed

2004-09-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

shy little grins as we await a new life to begin

we got married three years ago yesterday. marriage is both harder and better than i ever dreamed it could be and i wouldn't trade it for the world.

i love you, my sweet wife. you are all that i need and more than i deserve. here's to many more years of us!

Of Dad and Homebrew

2004-08-30T16:39:00.000-07:00

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
Benjamin Franklin

A few weeks ago, my wife and I spent some time with my Dad and my step-mom in their mountaintop home. We enjoyed ourselves and we soaked in the view of the beautiful So Cal mountain ranges and quaint feel of the “down town” area near their house. It was a true retreat, a chance to get away from all the stuff that clutters my mind here on the coast.

After returning to life in the city I got to thinking about the times I’ve had to spend with my dad and my step-mom over the past year and it made me sad to realize that it has been well over a year since we last visited them at their house. I mean, we see them about once a month or so but usually it’s somewhere "off the hill". These visits usually revolve around some family function like a birthday, a graduation, anniversary or, lately, funerals. We never seem to visit them just to visit them.

Well, by this point my brain was in the groove for thinking deeply about life, the universe and everything and I’m pretty sure that this is what lead me to thinking about the batch of Hefeweizen homebrewed beer my dad and I “put down” during our last visit.

To "put down" a batch of Hefeweizen homebrewed beer, as I’ve learned, involves several steps and a good amount of time. You must sterilize your equipment, boil your water and malt extract and then let it simmer with the hops. You add this, that and the other thing over time then you bring the whole concoction to a boil and then simmer it down again, removing the foam and then simmer it some more. Eventually, after a few more steps like adding the yeast and even more water (I’ve left these out to spare you), you cover the whole mix and let it sit and ferment for about two or three weeks. The beer will then need to be bottled for a further fermentation and “mellowing” process and should be ready to drink sometime in October.

As we were doing all this, I was thinking that it takes a lot of work and patience to make a good beer. You have to be committed through to the end product. You must take the work seriously because even the slightest contamination or misstep could ruin some two to three months of work (or more depending on what kind of beer you’re making). In short, shoddy work makes for shoddy beer, but give it a little TLC and you can literally taste the difference.

This whole process inspired me to think about the manner in which I approach my relationship with my dad and I drew a comparison: A good relationship, as in a good beer, is a labor of love. There are parts that are easy and totally fun to take part in. There are also parts that are tedious and less enjoyable than others. Still, in the end it’s the fruit of the labor (or, where beer is concerned, the fermentation of the labor) that makes it all worthwhile. A relationship that is cared for and tended to has much to give in return. There’s not much to say about a relationship that is neglected.

Well, Dad and I won’t be able to drink this batch of beer for a while yet, but that didn’t stop us from cracking open a few cold ones later on that day. We sat out on his deck (which I helped him build, now that I’m thinking about it) and discussed the stuff of life. Some big topics and some not so big…. The sun went down and we continued our conversation well into the evening. It was a great day and I think that this batch of homebrew is going to turn out nicely.

A Witty Retort

2004-08-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

This comment was such a home run that I thought it deserved a post all its own. Good on ya, KMJ! I'll have to come up with a Northwestern version, but I'll only post it if it is as cool as your's.

I Loved You, California

by KMJ

I Love You Southern CaliforniaI love you, Southern California,

you're the greatest *state* of all
I love what you call winter feels the same as spring and fall.

I love you Fountain Valley; your smoggy mountains I adore.
I love your pristine beaches (the toxic run-off I’ll ignore).

I love your flower-children; I love Hollywood and Vine,
I love you, California; you’ve arrested this heart of mine.

I love your metered onramps – I love your carpool lanes,
I love your endless gridlock, and inability to drive in the rain,

I love your greyish sunsets, love your skies of azure brown,
I love you, California; even when my asthma keeps me down.

I love you, Land of Face Lifts, with your beauties bought and sold,
I loved you in my childhood, and I'll love you when I'm chronologically old
-although I will still totally never have wrinkles or cellulite or thin lips or unwaxed legs or natural pigmentation or baggy, saggy parts or anything else that resembles normal age - it just isn't natural!

And I know if I sell my house right now, a mansion I could own

In any place I want, except my sunny California home.

****Sorry, but it was begging for it. Respectfully, your expatriate Californian friend.

I Love You, California!

2004-08-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

Incensed and generally worked-up-into-a-huffy-puff by the anti-Californian sentiment that inspired a recent post I decided to see if I could put into words my love for this great Golden State. In my endeavor to express my "Amor de California" I came across the official state song. Please share and enjoy!

I love You California

Written by F. B. Silverwood/Composed by A. F. Frankenstein

I love you, California, you're the greatest state of all

I love you in the winter, summer, spring, and in the fall.

I love your fertile valleys; your dear mountains I adore,

I love your grand old ocean and I love her rugged shore.

I love your redwood forests - love your fields of yellow grain,

I love your summer breezes, and I love your winter rain,

I love you, land of flowers; land of honey, fruit and wine,

I love you, California; you have won this heart of mine.

I love your old gray Missions - love your vineyards stretching far,

I love you, California, with your Golden Gate ajar,

I love your purple sunsets, love your skies of azure blue,

I love you, California; I just can't help loving you.

I love you, Catalina - you are very dear to me,

I love you, Tamalpais, and I love Yosemite,

I love you, Land of Sunshine, half your beauties are untold,

I loved you in my childhood, and I'll love you when I'm old.

When the snow crowned Golden Sierras

Keep their watch o'er the valleys bloom.

It is there I would be in our land by the sea,

Ev'ry breeze bearing rich perfume,

It is here nature gives of her rarest,

It is Home Sweet Home to me.

And I know when I die I shall breathe my last sigh

For my sunny California.

*sniff* and I know that when I die *honk* I shall breathe my last sweet good *sniff* bye for you my sunny California! *sob crumble in a state of wrecked emotion*

Work in Progress

2004-08-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

I am working on a piece for the blog that is very uncharacteristic. It's so freakin' introspective that it's taking me forever. Anyway, entertain yourselves with these little numbers until it is done.

SIX FEET UNDER
The instructions are in German so...

To Play (you must have flash player to play)

Press the right arrow key repeatedly to make the hearse go faster
Press the space bar when you get into the pink shaded area on the road, but be careful to stop before you hit the brick wall.
See how far the coffin flies (my best is 612.88 meters)

The Original Tombstone Generator

This should be self explanatory and as they say, "Post 'em if you got 'em!"

You'll get nuthin' and like it, Tim!

2004-08-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

Pull My Finger!

Another stranger but true pastime.

Too busy these days to blog it. (or actually too lazy and unmotivated to write the stuff that comes into my head.) Enjoy this picture instead. It says 1000 words.

Photo of the Week

2004-07-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

The Pacific NW may be beautiful, but it is home to some crazy SOB's! Seems that every January 1st the lovely, gentle people of Washington run headlong into a local body of water (Capitol Lake in Olympia, WA. shown here). They leave the warmth and comfort of their cozy fireplaces to enter the frigid waters on purpose and they call it the Freezing Man Polar Blast.

Although it is not mentioned in any of the news articles I've found I'm sure shrinkage is major concern for these two gentlemen. I mean, just look at their facial expressions! How can this not be painful?

A Long Tradition

2004-07-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

My friend Tim and I have, as long as I can remember, traded grievously long answering machine messages. I can recall that at one point our parents asked us to stop because we were using up the entire tape. Obviously, there wasn’t a medicine to heal this sickness.

Super Packed Saturday!

2004-07-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

Hey when it rains it pours. It seems that everybody I know gets the idea to throw a party, get together, play a concert, blah, blah, blah on the same freaking day. I mean take today for example (yeah, another list).

I could do one (but not all) of the following today:

Go to the beach and hang out for a friend's b-day party
Go paintballing for yet another friend's b-day
Go to another party tonight for a friend's just because
Go to a concert tonight
Play Axis & Allies w/ another group of friends
Go to another group of friend's going away party
AAAAHHHAAARRRGGGHHH!!! I 'm exhausted!

Last week we had nada, but nuthin' going on and now this. What is it, people? Can't you all coordinate this kind of stuff! Yeesh!

Actually, I'm pretty excited to have the option of so much. It feels good to know that we're loved.

Have a great weekend, fellow... bloggites? Bloggonians? Bloggish? Well, whatever. Have a great one.

Great starter, but terrible finisher

2004-07-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by Tim's July 19 post to create a list of the books I've started reading but have to yet finish.

High Fidelity
Surprised by Joy
The Great Divorce (I've read this one before, but I wanted to start it again)
The Road Unseen
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Wild at Heart
Some book on documentary film making
Several theological type books
oh blast it all!!! There are like 10 more but I can't remember them!
Wait... What was I listing again?
Milk
Eggs
Bread
Coffee filters
Oooh, coffee! I think I need a Starbucks!
...
Crap! See, I told you I was a great starter.
Start finishing things.

I need a Starbucks

2004-07-17T15:13:00.000-07:00

I like music.

2004-07-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

So it seems like I'm providing more of a "What I think is cool on the ol' Internet" blog than I am a "What I think" blog but I don't really care. I enjoy the www and am always up for learning about new and interesting sites. (KMJ and SCR have done a screamin' job at that, btw.)

Anyhoo, I like music a lot and like very much to hear new stuff that isn't nessecarily in the mainstream. In fact, I usually like the bands that don't get the regular air play. Don't get me wrong! Hey, Britany and her clones are truely talented *snicker* and Maroon5 totally su... I mean rocks the house, man. *HA*

Well, anyway this link has some pretty good stuff so enjoy.

Epitonic.com: Hi Quality Free and Legal MP3 Music

2004-07-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

FOUND Magazine

Have you ever found a photo or a note on the ground? You weren't expecting to find anything. You were just walking down to the store to buy some eggs and milk when this little item blew into your path or maybe it was stuck under your windshield wipers by mistake. However and wherever you found it it is now part of your day. But what do you do with it? Do you pick the photo up? Do you look at it turning it over in your hands inspecting every detail? Who's in this photo? What was the occation? Do you read the note and wonder about who wrote it and who it was meant to receive it? What was going on in their lives that prompted them to write such a note?

Or maybe you just leave it there. You step over it and go on your way. Maybe you don't even notice it at all. Either way you'll never know what you've missed.

If you like these little bits of teasure (voyuerist though they may be) then you'll enjoy FOUND. If you don't stop to look at the mundane then you need to look at FOUND and learn to broaden your world.

Hello, my name is Ian and I am a blogoholic: A blogger on the verge of burnout.

2004-07-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

Why I am so taken by this blog phenomenon?

I mean, sure, I get to be a part of the semi-daily lives of my friends and they mine, but losing production at work because of it? I have become blog obsessed over checking other blogs for new entries and keeping up with the comments on my own. (Maybe the new phrase "blobsessed" can be added to the blexicon?)

And, I'll have you know that some of you don't write no short blogettes either! You know who you are you weavers of temptation! BE DAMNED!!!

*fists raised to the sky then slouching to sigh deeply and forlornly*

Still, I check my blog favorites list several times a day to see if there is anything new going on. I can't help my self. I love checking my blog to see if anyone has enjoyed my most recent post. I love reading the new stuff and I find that I'm disappointed in there isn't any.

But am I sick or do I suffer from some kind of addiction? Am I on the verge of "blurnout"? (ooh, another one!) I can't say that I have suffered any blogger burnout yet. Yessh, I don't make enough entries to feel a twinge of carpal tunnel let alone blurnout, but I worry that I am an "at risk" case. Is it only a matter of time?

Probably, but I do love it so.

I need it so.

Oh, Blogger, what have you done?

Wired News: Bloggers Suffer Burnout

Bands I've have loved

2004-07-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

This may not be the best recording, but it is one of my favs.

No Surprise

The Gary is online!

2004-07-13T17:58:00.000-07:00

Hey, it's a start...

Dingusrodebaugh

Spiderman 2 in Legos aka Holy Crap These Guys Have A Lot Of Time

2004-07-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

This is very fun and it makes me realize that the cure for world hunger isn't an impossible goal. If only we could harness the energy... *sigh*

Experience the Glory

The Soy Milk Junkies sign 1 million dollar endorsement deal with Manzier, Inc.

2004-07-07T13:11:00.000-07:00

For those of you who did not get my soy milk joke/comment on Scooter's July 5 post you can check out this article.

Here's the part I'm most concerned about:

Most concerns about soy have centered around the fact that it is a rich source of isoflavones, substances that mimic the effects of the female hormone estrogen. To determine what these plant-based chemicals might do, Steven Zeisel and his colleagues at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill fed megadoses of soy to men as part of a recent National Cancer Institute study.
Nipple discharge, breast enlargement and slight decreases in testosterone occurred with the megadoses [of soy protein].

Men beware!!!

And now for something completely different...

2004-07-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

We're back from Las Vegas and I'm $40 poorer. More on that at a later date.

Anyway for a quick infusion of chaos visit my friend's site for a different take on blogging. He calls it vidblogging and my particular fav is # 029 entitled "CA DREAMS".

Enjoy, my faithful readers.

2004-06-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

Viva Las Vegas

Yeah, baby! We're going to Vegas for the 4th!!! The lovely Rodebaughs are coming with us (or actually, we're going with them) and it should be great fun! We'll do a little gaming, a little shopping, a little relaxing by the pooling and of course we'll take a dam tour.

Ah, yes, the Hoover Dam. It's the best dam I've ever seen. And I absolutely love the dam tours. They're great if you want to take some dam pictures and you'll learn a lot of dam history from your very qualified dam tour guide. I hope we go on the dam hardhat tour this time. Oh, there's a whole lot of dam fun to be had at the HD. I can't wait to go to the dam!

Peas (as Mike says)

One of them thar days

2004-06-28T15:13:00.000-07:00

This is one of the those days.

In fact, this weekend has been one of those days.

You know what I'm talking about. The days when staying in bed is a much better idea than getting up and trying to go about life like a normal person. Let's just say that the photo I've included in today's post does an ever so ample job describing my behavior and attitude over the past weekend. Lord, help me, but I can't explain why I am so hard headed about some of the silliest stuff.

Selfportrait

(and Lord help my wife for she's got to put up with it!)

*sigh*

Mike vs Michael

2004-06-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

Michael Moore's new movie, Fahrenheit 9/11, comes out today. Well, I think it opened in NYC earlier this week but it's made it to the West Coast today.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing it. I've seen Bowling for Columbine and have read (most of) Dude, Where's My Country and they are intriguing and I must say that MM is very good and making one (or at least me) sympathetic to his side of the story. He always packs a lot of punch with the way he presents his "facts" and entertains you in the process. Still, it's no secret that he's got an agenda and that he's using the entertainment value of his products to promote it and that more than calls into question he's ability to be objective.

I'll let you see the movie and figure it out for yourselves.

Now, to be fair and balanced about it, check out Michael Moore Hates America and make sure you see this movie when it comes to theaters. I'm Sure Mike Wilson has his own agenda as well, but it'll be fun to see some one stick it to MM for a change.

On Pre-Fatherhood: getting used to the idea of getting used to the idea

2004-06-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

The concept of becoming a father scares me a lot! Not that Case & I are anywhere near the actual "becoming" part, mind you. But we are talking about having kids a heck of a lot more than we used. Well, we talk about the when's, the where's, the how's and why's of it anyway. (And by "how's" I mean finances, so you can just put all those other thoughts out of your little head. Yes, I mean you, Scooter, Mike and Tim!!! I know you guys too well to leave the door swinging wide-open in the breeze.)

Anyway, this talking... Well, it gets me thinking it does. Most of me is thinking that I, in no pickin' way, shape or form, understand what in the H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks I am talking about! I mean, fatherhood?! Isn't that some book that Bill Cosby wrote? Isn't that something for grow-ups to think about. Me? Be a father? Ha, thanks for the laugh.

Still there is that small, tiny little part of me that gets excited when we talk about having kids and longs for that time to come. It reassures me that being a father will move smoothly from the conceptual to the actual just as college graduation and getting married did. It shows me that I will learn to have what it takes and it doesn't really matter that I don't know what I'm doing right now because neither did anyone else at this time in their lives. Most of all it reminds me that I am not alone and that, I think, it the most comforting thought of all.

So, with that said, I came across this article and I hope that I will remember to do all these things when I am a dad.

Now, on the whole topic of what being a husband means, please check out Mike's blog. Mike, I salute you for you nailed it!

2004-06-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

What I do at work when I'm bored.

#1 on Google Search for "ironsulfide"

2004-06-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

Yeah, baby! I am now officially recognized as a cyber entity!

Check it out

Google Search: ironsulfide

The 77s in concert in the NW

2004-06-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

If I lived in the frigin' NW I'd go see this show!

The 77s w/ The Strawmen

Bad News for Potter Fans

2004-06-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

J.K. Rowling Ends Harry Potter Series After Discovering Boys

Practicing Medicine?

2004-06-16T00:15:00.000-07:00

So my wife does some care work for a 93 year old man every other Saturday. His name is Vince. She cooks and cleans and generally makes sure he's comfy. She used to do this for this man's wife, but she passed away last year and now it's just him. Anyway, you'd never believe Vince is 93. He walks every day and swims at least twice a week. He's totally cool to talk to and is still sharp as a tack. My wife sure loves him and I can even say that I've grown to as well.

Well, two days ago Vince went into the hospital for some general tests (I mean, come on! He's 93 for gosh sakes!) The doctors told him that he was the picture of health for a man his age. He was a mere hour from being discharged when the nurse on duty came by to give out the meds. She gave Vince his roommate's powerful pain killers! Vince resisted ('cause, like I said, he's a smartie) but the nurse forced him to take the pills away. The nurse figured out her mistake about 1.5 hours later but by that time Vince was already nearing a comatose state. His breathing was shallow, his pulse was weak and if something wasn't done soon he was going to die! Thankfully, the rest of the hospital staff had their heads screwed on straight and acted quickly to reverse the action of the pills. Vince is out of the woods and is on the road to recovery.

How crazy is it that one small choice can change your life (or someone else's) in a huge way. The nurse was just doing her job. She was probably tired and had been dealing with grumpy old people all day long. "Quit your complainin', ya old coot, and take your medicine!" 99% of the time she's probably right, too, but this time she darn near killed someone.

What to do?

2004-06-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe me life is normal, but I like it that way.

Anyway, my wife and I have been seriously considering moving closer to her parents within the next year. We're up there just about every other weekend and it would be great to have those "built-in" babysitters when the time comes (it's not now so don't get all mushy!). Plus, we'd be moving closer to some of our childhood friends and that's always a good thing.
The problem is that she needs to finish her schooling and I would either need to commute 1.5 hours to my job or find one in the area. And there ain't really any jobs in my field around where the parental-types live. AND even the ones that are around won't pay enough for us to live on one income. Yeesh! I don't know what we're going to do.

Because you all should be prepared

2004-06-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

EMERGENCY

Blog Block

2004-06-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

Uh, I really don't have much to say right now. It's like my life is just so... normal. Sorry.

Breakfast and BM

2004-06-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

Ever notice that just about right after you eat that most important meal of the day that you have to "take care o' business". You know... Drop the kids off, Star in a Western w/ the Duke, etc. Man, my body is like clock work!

Hey, in the interest of community, what other euphemisms are out there?

(And remember that this blog is PG rated so use your best judgment please. Thank you, The Management)

Back in Town!

2004-06-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

Hey, sorry it's been so long since my last post. We've been out o' town this past week visiting the fam. It was a great week!

Anyway, this past week made me think about family. I love 'em! I mean we all have our troubles and we don't always get along, but I wouldn't trade them for 10 billion dollars (doll hairs for you old skoolers) and the chance to take the big prize behind door #2. Some people dread visiting their family or their in-laws. We can't get enough of them and that is a very precious thing indeed.

Sorry to be so sappy, but it's true.

Stupid, stupid, stupid

2004-05-20T09:04:00.000-07:00

In response to my last post, I realized that I was the one who set it up that way. HA, HA. Don't we all enjoy a good laugh!? Boy, do I feel like a raving idiot! I think maybe my wife is right. Maybe I should think first and then speak (or write as the case may be).

Well, now any old somebody can post a comment on my blog. Have fun and I hope to hear from you soon.

Consumer Dissonance

2004-05-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, I must apologize to all of you who tried to comment on my post and were met with the *read w/ snotty voice* "WE DON'T ALLOW ANONYMOUS POSTS" message and then where given the opportunity to *still read w/ snotty voice* "sign up" for a blogger account. That totally sucks!!! I was so excited to be able to have my friends and family be a part of this blog thing that I never thought about any of this restrictive crap! I hate having products and services pushed at me and I hate that this stupid blogger.com thing has done that to my invited guests. Please accept my sincerest apologies. If you don't want to sign up with blogger I hope you will at least come back and read my posts and talk with me later about them.
To those of you who did sign up, thank you for your patience and I hope that you will visit again soon and feel free to leave your comments, stories, etc. Thanks again for your persistence.

One of the Best Times in my Life!

2004-05-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

Dr. Dome & Mr. Mosaic

Lambart Dome & Pascal Mosaic

My friend Tim and I once taught art at an elementary school in Long Beach, CA. We would travel from class to class dressed as these two characters: Mr. Lambart Dome (Tim) and Pacal Mosaic (me). We were accompanied by the infamous "art cart" and a stereo blasting such tunes as the Rocky Theme or the Dr. Who Theme to annouce to the entire school that it was time for art in one of the class rooms. As you can probably tell from these pictures (and if you now Tim and me) the students and the teachers never knew what hit them. Click on the link if you want to see more.

Man, that was fun! Good times.

Gone Public.

2004-05-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

Ho boy. Now I've done it. I've gone and sent out an email and told people about this here little blog. I am nervous! If people read this then I'll be like an open book to them. They'll know my deepest most inner thoughts about life, the universe and everything. Or, at least, they'll think that they do... Hmm...
*stroking goatee in a devious manner*
Yes! I can control the way the others think about me by spinning and editing the thoughts I enter on this site!
*megalomanical laugh*
AHA HA HA HA!!! It's alive! Alive I tell you! Today, the internet! Tomorrow, the World!!!
*lightening strikes, thunder claps and the surrounding light dims so that only Ian's wildly twisted face can be seen highlighted by the glow of the computer screen*

Ah, yes. This will be my finest hour.

You never know when some one's going to snap

2004-05-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

Today I had to take my car into the dealer for some scheduled maintenance and I used the complementary shuttle service to get to work. I've done this plenty of times before and never once did I give any thought to the kind of person taking the wheel (and my life) in his hands. Anyway, we were leaving the parking lot of the dealership and parts delivery truck pulled into a spot that partially blocked our exit. It took some maneuvering, but our driver made it out ok. It was then that our driver proceeded to share with us his thoughts for the future...
"I hate those delivery guys! They think they own the entire parking lot and they don't gots no respect for nobody! Boy, I'll tell you there'll come a day when I don't want to work here nomo' and when it does I'll show 'm what how to respect!"
We all laughed nervously. I said, "Hopefully not with us in the van."
And he replied, "Naw, I won't use a car. Ya see I'm from South Dakota and we teaches respect the old fashioned way out there. We'll take 'm out back in the woods somewheres and beat him for awhile with an axe handle and leave 'm for the bears."
Oh boy! Nice, Mr. Courtesy Shuttle Driver Man! Thank you so much for letting me peek into your crazy little world! What stimulating conversation! Now here's your tip money and LET ME OUT OF THIS CAR!!!

Thank God I made it to work and I'm alive.

Watch out, I'm a Loose Cannon!

2004-05-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

Not really, but it seems that when I give a co-worker a hard time about something that it comes as a surprise to everyone in the office. And now they can't stop talking about it. Holy Moly, I'm hungry!

In All My Glory

2004-05-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

the very first time

2004-05-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

hello webland! this is my first attempt at internet narcissism. i mean why else would one start a blog? this, of course, is not to be confused with any other venue for narcissistic behavior. i tend to look for any and all ways to get the attention i so greatly deserve. so here's to a long and productive relationship.