Please be praying for my cousins. Jason and his brother-in-law will be going through a kidney donation surgery on March 11th in Michigan. This is Jason's second kidney transplant -- his first was from his Mom when he was very young. His sister's husband ended up being a match for Jason this time. (Good choice on husband picking Sara!) Thanks also to another cousin (by marriage) that had signed up to be a "paired kidney donor" and all the rest that were tested.
Our thoughts and prayers will be with Jason and Candace and Adam and Sara, and all the rest of the family.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Aloha!
MAUAI WOWIE!
Ric and I will get to check out this slogan ourselves in late May.
Last week I passed my destination specialist test on Hawaii. The next step is a certified destination specialist. I have to visit within 5 yrs of taking the first test, write a detailed paper on the destination, fill out some forms, and pay $25. I"m hoping with just visiting one island, they will let me complete the designation. If not, I guess we will have to plan on visiting all the other islands within 5yrs!
Any suggestions from anyone out there on where to eat or visit? We are planning on most of the tourist stops --- Haleakala National Park, Iao Valley (and Needle), the road to Hana, and more. We will be staying in Lahania.
Ric and I will get to check out this slogan ourselves in late May.
Last week I passed my destination specialist test on Hawaii. The next step is a certified destination specialist. I have to visit within 5 yrs of taking the first test, write a detailed paper on the destination, fill out some forms, and pay $25. I"m hoping with just visiting one island, they will let me complete the designation. If not, I guess we will have to plan on visiting all the other islands within 5yrs!
Any suggestions from anyone out there on where to eat or visit? We are planning on most of the tourist stops --- Haleakala National Park, Iao Valley (and Needle), the road to Hana, and more. We will be staying in Lahania.
Another month
Well, today is the last day of February and I did not too to well with my monthly resolution. This month was to not eat after 830p ---- it didn't happen most of the month -- I guess I wasn't too serious about it. I also gained a pound this month :-(
March's resolution is to drink at least 6 8oz glasses of water a day. One of my problems with this is I love my water to be cold -- not room temp. So, the bottle I fill up and have at my desk, does not stay cold long enough. Or --- another way to look at it --- I don't drink it fast enough! I'll have to work on some other ways to get my drinking in.
March's resolution is to drink at least 6 8oz glasses of water a day. One of my problems with this is I love my water to be cold -- not room temp. So, the bottle I fill up and have at my desk, does not stay cold long enough. Or --- another way to look at it --- I don't drink it fast enough! I'll have to work on some other ways to get my drinking in.
"There will be blood."
Some cheery thoughts on the world economy:
If you are looking for a happy place, you won't find it here.
There will be blood, in the sense that a crisis of this magnitude is bound to increase political as well as economic [conflict]. It is bound to destabilize some countries. It will cause civil wars to break out, that have been dormant. It will topple governments that were moderate and bring in governments that are extreme.
...I think the IMF has been consistently wrong in its projections year after year. Most projections are wrong, because they're based on models that don't really correspond to the real world. If anything good comes of crisis, I hope it will be to discredit these ridiculous models that people rely on, and a return to something more like a historical understanding about the way the world works.
If you are looking for a happy place, you won't find it here.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Rock Bottom (or sand if you prefer)
If you need any more evidence that granola crunchers really are completely nuts, then just read this. Yea. Lets go back to technology used in the first century and resulted in mass epidemics. I know the greenies think there are too many people on the planet and disease is the quickest way to eliminate them (if you doubt that, look up the history of the DDT ban), but this is just absurd. Muhammad recommended three smooth stones and I've read wilderness guides that recommend handfuls of sand for that just-scrubbed-with-a-wire-brush feeling. That would be even greener as their wouldn't be anything to launder!
Just do the rest of us a favor: If you decide to use these, mark your homes and businesses so the rest of us normal people will know to go elsewhere. A big streak of brown on the front door should do the trick....
Just do the rest of us a favor: If you decide to use these, mark your homes and businesses so the rest of us normal people will know to go elsewhere. A big streak of brown on the front door should do the trick....
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Short Break, Long Break, Whatever...
A funny thing happened while I was taking a short break from writing school papers; it turned into a long break. Four hours and counting to be precise. Now I have to really crank the next two days, but at least looking away for a few hours has given me some new ideas for the paper I'm working on. You know the primary goal of college isn't to learn things and be able to demonstrate that learning in a succinct manner; it's all about hitting the page count and following the APA guidelines. (Which, speaking of bored people, one would think a group of psychologists could find something better to worry about than whether it's better to separate the city and name of the publisher with a comma or a semi-colon. I'm sure the world was holding its breath awaiting the outcome.) So once I'm done boring my readers, I will get back to fluffing up my last big project this week and possibly getting a start on the big paper due next week.
Anyway, I see Obama took Political Math 101 in college, just like the rest of the moral defectives in Washington DC. For the last time: Even 100% confiscation of all income on the top 1% or 2% or 5% will not close the budget deficits. And the wealthy, thanks to progressive taxes, already pay a disproportionate share of income taxes. The only meaningful tax reform involves restructuring FICA taxes, but if we do that, any remaining illusion that Social Security is anything but welfare will disappear.
Change we can believe in, eh? Looks like more of the same from where I'm sitting.
GM is losing $58K a minute. A share of common stock is $2.33, and they just posted a per-share loss of $9.65 excluding special items for just the fourth quarter, so that makes the value of the company, um, lets seee... subtract a 5.... carry the 2.... Well, I don't have Obama's math skills, so I can't give an exact figure, but just going by the seat of my pants, I'd say GM is toast.
Maybe Toyota will take over all the abandonded plants in Michigan. We'll be flying back there in June, so it will be interesting to see how things look on the ground.
Anyway, I see Obama took Political Math 101 in college, just like the rest of the moral defectives in Washington DC. For the last time: Even 100% confiscation of all income on the top 1% or 2% or 5% will not close the budget deficits. And the wealthy, thanks to progressive taxes, already pay a disproportionate share of income taxes. The only meaningful tax reform involves restructuring FICA taxes, but if we do that, any remaining illusion that Social Security is anything but welfare will disappear.
Change we can believe in, eh? Looks like more of the same from where I'm sitting.
GM is losing $58K a minute. A share of common stock is $2.33, and they just posted a per-share loss of $9.65 excluding special items for just the fourth quarter, so that makes the value of the company, um, lets seee... subtract a 5.... carry the 2.... Well, I don't have Obama's math skills, so I can't give an exact figure, but just going by the seat of my pants, I'd say GM is toast.
Maybe Toyota will take over all the abandonded plants in Michigan. We'll be flying back there in June, so it will be interesting to see how things look on the ground.
Bored
No, not me, but obviously the Colorado State Police are:
Investigation? Into jaywalking? Really? Ya know, if the boys in Colorado have nothing better to do than ticket good Samaritans and "investigate" jaywalking, you can come out here and pick up trash along Granite Creek.
And according to the FBI over half of all murders are never solved. Nice to see our priorities are in order.
A good Samaritan who helped push three people out of the path of a pickup truck before being struck and injured has gotten a strange reward for his good deed: A jaywalking ticket.
...the pickup driver was cited with careless driving that led to injury. Sullivan said the two elderly women haven't been cited but the investigation is ongoing.
Investigation? Into jaywalking? Really? Ya know, if the boys in Colorado have nothing better to do than ticket good Samaritans and "investigate" jaywalking, you can come out here and pick up trash along Granite Creek.
And according to the FBI over half of all murders are never solved. Nice to see our priorities are in order.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Crushed
The markets were crushed today, and there is a story out today that the government is trying to put a bankruptcy package together for GM and Chrysler. Ya know; just in case. Sounds like a long hot summer for Detroit.
So the question for tomorrow: will bottom feeders kick the DOW up away from 7,000 or will it crash through yet-another psychological barrier?
Are we having fun yet?
So the question for tomorrow: will bottom feeders kick the DOW up away from 7,000 or will it crash through yet-another psychological barrier?
Are we having fun yet?
In the News
While taking a break before I dive into bed for my allotted 3-4 hours sleep so I can jump back into school work, I ran across a few interesting news items:
Britain is bracing for a "summer of rage." Uh, ya think?
Clinton is over in China begging them to keep loaning money to our government. The "logic" of Clinton's arguments are just precious: loan money to the US government so it can give it to zombie banks in the hope that they will lend it to consumers who are already defaulting on every class of debt, who will then buy more useless crap from China who will loan the money to the US government.... Isn't that exactly how we got into this mess?
So what do you do with a $70,000, 103-inch flatscreen? Lay it face up and turn it into a fake air hockey game. As soon as I read the first paragraph, I saw several problems. The writers saw them too. First, air hockey is about smashing the puck as hard and fast as you can. Rubbing your fingers around on a screen just ain't the same. Secondly, part of... OK, most of the fun of air hockey is the high probability of a player or spectator taking a puck to the face. For me, eliminating that possibility is a deal-breaker. I'll just find a pinball machine to feed my quarters to. Finally, how long before there's a video on YouTube of some guy getting a little too physical and taking a header through the middle of the screen?
Well, enough fun. Off to bed.
Britain is bracing for a "summer of rage." Uh, ya think?
Clinton is over in China begging them to keep loaning money to our government. The "logic" of Clinton's arguments are just precious: loan money to the US government so it can give it to zombie banks in the hope that they will lend it to consumers who are already defaulting on every class of debt, who will then buy more useless crap from China who will loan the money to the US government.... Isn't that exactly how we got into this mess?
So what do you do with a $70,000, 103-inch flatscreen? Lay it face up and turn it into a fake air hockey game. As soon as I read the first paragraph, I saw several problems. The writers saw them too. First, air hockey is about smashing the puck as hard and fast as you can. Rubbing your fingers around on a screen just ain't the same. Secondly, part of... OK, most of the fun of air hockey is the high probability of a player or spectator taking a puck to the face. For me, eliminating that possibility is a deal-breaker. I'll just find a pinball machine to feed my quarters to. Finally, how long before there's a video on YouTube of some guy getting a little too physical and taking a header through the middle of the screen?
Well, enough fun. Off to bed.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Gettin' There
Final paper for the first class is going through final edits and will be posted tonight along with the last team assignment and the standard class assessment crap that never means anything. Everyone hates the things other than the students which have no business being in college. If you have a serious problem with an instructor, schools have several means to deal with that, with the obvious one being avoid that instructor.
Anyway, once I'm done wasting my time evaluating my class and my instructor and my learning team, blah, blah, blah, that will be one down, five to go.
Next week will likely be busy again, although not as bad as this week. I have another paper to write, but it's only five pages instead of ten. The flip side is I haven't written a single word of it and don't even know what it's supposed to be about. Probably should get on that. Or not. At this point, I'm just going for the C. Don't care about anything else.
Well, back at it. Only two more weeks until I get to take a break. Woohoo!
Anyway, once I'm done wasting my time evaluating my class and my instructor and my learning team, blah, blah, blah, that will be one down, five to go.
Next week will likely be busy again, although not as bad as this week. I have another paper to write, but it's only five pages instead of ten. The flip side is I haven't written a single word of it and don't even know what it's supposed to be about. Probably should get on that. Or not. At this point, I'm just going for the C. Don't care about anything else.
Well, back at it. Only two more weeks until I get to take a break. Woohoo!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Carpal Tunnel World
Type, type, type, and when I'm not typing school work, I'm blogging. Anyway, today was productive. I didn't get as much done as I hoped for, but more than I expected. I should be in pretty good shape after tomorrow. I need to jump on tonight and do some quick stuff and spend some quality time in the discussion boards trying to pretend I know what I'm talking about. There is now a thread in one of the discussion boards on exegesis and hermeneutics in which I have no pants. Don't ask. I think this may be a first at Cornerstone University. And the coolest thing about college is that you get to learn a lot of big words like "exegesis" and "hermeneutics" that you don't know what they mean. And can only spell because the Blogger spell checker knows how.
Anyway.
One of the problems with trying to fix a recession by printing money is that eventually inflation will wreck everything. It's starting already. Everyone had hoped that it would take a while for prices to catch up to the printing presses, but no such luck. Gas prices where we normally buy it jumped up to $2.13, although nothing else we buy seems to be following suite. The only way to stop inflation is to raise interest rates which sort of goes contrary to what Barack and Friends have been trying to do. It also may be worth noting that gold is toying with the $1,000 mark again.
No sarcasm: this is good. Go read it. It will make your day.
(See? I can do the happy bloggy thingy once in a while.)
Anyway.
One of the problems with trying to fix a recession by printing money is that eventually inflation will wreck everything. It's starting already. Everyone had hoped that it would take a while for prices to catch up to the printing presses, but no such luck. Gas prices where we normally buy it jumped up to $2.13, although nothing else we buy seems to be following suite. The only way to stop inflation is to raise interest rates which sort of goes contrary to what Barack and Friends have been trying to do. It also may be worth noting that gold is toying with the $1,000 mark again.
No sarcasm: this is good. Go read it. It will make your day.
(See? I can do the happy bloggy thingy once in a while.)
GAAAH! I've Been Tagged!
OK, I've never done this before, so hope I do this right. Anyway, I got tagged by Tombo. This is how this is supposed to work:
Go to the sixth folder of pictures on your computer, and pick the sixth pic. And that's supposed to be it. Then tag six others.
My six others:
Matt and/or Jen
Tom T.
Mutant Cat
Courtney
Melissa and/or Michael
Casey
(I need more friends; took way too much research to find six people and most are family. I need a nap now.)
My photo is one of my cousins and her daughter. This was taken in April 2003 at my grandpa's 90th birthday party:
Go to the sixth folder of pictures on your computer, and pick the sixth pic. And that's supposed to be it. Then tag six others.
My six others:
Matt and/or Jen
Tom T.
Mutant Cat
Courtney
Melissa and/or Michael
Casey
(I need more friends; took way too much research to find six people and most are family. I need a nap now.)
My photo is one of my cousins and her daughter. This was taken in April 2003 at my grandpa's 90th birthday party:
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
That's a Wrap
No, I'm not done with my classes or even with the 10-page paper that is due Monday at midnight. No,no; this is something much more important:
I made it all the way through our iTunes library today at 1630 Arizona time. I started on 12/20/2008. That's 4,449 songs and I listened to every single one of them.
Woohoo!
Let's do it again!
Not working and being chained to the couch doing school work will guarantee a faster trip this time.
On the economic front: this is not a blip or a V-bottomed recession. I grew up in the 1970's and I survived as did everyone I know. This is no where near the end of the world or even the end of the world as we know it. Or at least that's true if you are over 40. It not, welcome to a new reality, chump!
Well, now that I've cheered everyone up, back to work!
I made it all the way through our iTunes library today at 1630 Arizona time. I started on 12/20/2008. That's 4,449 songs and I listened to every single one of them.
Woohoo!
Let's do it again!
Not working and being chained to the couch doing school work will guarantee a faster trip this time.
On the economic front: this is not a blip or a V-bottomed recession. I grew up in the 1970's and I survived as did everyone I know. This is no where near the end of the world or even the end of the world as we know it. Or at least that's true if you are over 40. It not, welcome to a new reality, chump!
Well, now that I've cheered everyone up, back to work!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Hittin' My Stride
Didn't bother going to bed last night and got a ton of school work done. I have most of the work due next Monday already in the can. I'm trying to free up at least three days between now and Sunday that I can use to focus on the 10-page end-of-class paper that is due on February 24. I have some notes put together, but I haven't looked at it in couple weeks, so I need to really focus. As soon as that paper is done, I have two other 10-pagers due March 9. Then I get a couple weeks off then start right in with two classes with a third piling on about three weeks in. Then it's all over. Sweet.
Some good news that will set the tone for 2009: Everyone knows that California is a basket case, but now Kansas is suspending tax refunds and doesn't think it can meet payroll. I doubt places like Michigan will be far behind with the auto industry imploding.
At the federal level, we have the usual figure for the total debt at something like $10 trillion (which is only through 2008; 2009 will add another $2-5 trillion to that). But it's only that small (!) because the government uses an accounting method that itsn't allowed for all but the smallest businesses. If you follow GAAP, the number is something like $65.5 trillion. For perspective, that's more than the world's entire GDP.
And Hallmark Day wouldn't be complete without a rant about sex in advertising. Anyone that knows me would hardly call me a prude, and as far as a saint's holiday being turned into blatant sex for sale, just remember the saints threw the first punch. I do, however, wonder just who is being marketed to when tampons are being advertised during Saturday morning cartoons. I would think just from a marketing budget standpoint that would problematic, aside from any moral issues.
Back to work. If I can pull another all-night session, I can have everything done by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Then sleep and the Big Paper.
Some good news that will set the tone for 2009: Everyone knows that California is a basket case, but now Kansas is suspending tax refunds and doesn't think it can meet payroll. I doubt places like Michigan will be far behind with the auto industry imploding.
At the federal level, we have the usual figure for the total debt at something like $10 trillion (which is only through 2008; 2009 will add another $2-5 trillion to that). But it's only that small (!) because the government uses an accounting method that itsn't allowed for all but the smallest businesses. If you follow GAAP, the number is something like $65.5 trillion. For perspective, that's more than the world's entire GDP.
And Hallmark Day wouldn't be complete without a rant about sex in advertising. Anyone that knows me would hardly call me a prude, and as far as a saint's holiday being turned into blatant sex for sale, just remember the saints threw the first punch. I do, however, wonder just who is being marketed to when tampons are being advertised during Saturday morning cartoons. I would think just from a marketing budget standpoint that would problematic, aside from any moral issues.
Back to work. If I can pull another all-night session, I can have everything done by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Then sleep and the Big Paper.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Vacation options
It can be hard to be a travel agent ----- each time you find a great deal for somebody, or an awesome trip to someplace you've never been --- you want to book it for yourself. I've seen a lot of specials for Alaska cruises and cruisetours for this year. Of course, we are planning on an Alaskan cruisetour for 2010. I keep figuring out my PTO time and if we can fit it in this year -- maybe the end of the Alaska cruisetour season --- I think I will be a bit short to take off for one of the cruisetours we want. Plus, I wouldn't be able to take off a sick day between now and then! Oh well.....
We will be flying to Michigan twice this summer for "long weekends" --- once for my goddaughter's high school open house and once for our niece's wedding. We originally planned on just "long weekends" so we save up PTO time and maybe go home for Thanksgiving/Christmas. But those plans fell through for all the family together like I was hoping for. Again .. oh well...... At least we will have two full days of visiting along with the day of the special event. I hate to try to cram so much into a weekend, but when that is all you got, you just do it.
I can't wait for all the hugs I will get and give. Some days I just feel so sad. I am not good about making new friends....as many of you know. I truly miss one special friend from Michigan. I know anytime I can make it back to Michigan, she will be smiling and holding out her arms for a hug.
On another subject --- I finally remembered to ask my Mom to try to find a certain cake mix for me. We have looked at all the stores here in Prescott and area --- no luck. She bought a couple for me and is mailing them out next week. I will finally be able to have my favorite cake! Thanks so much, MOM!
We will be flying to Michigan twice this summer for "long weekends" --- once for my goddaughter's high school open house and once for our niece's wedding. We originally planned on just "long weekends" so we save up PTO time and maybe go home for Thanksgiving/Christmas. But those plans fell through for all the family together like I was hoping for. Again .. oh well...... At least we will have two full days of visiting along with the day of the special event. I hate to try to cram so much into a weekend, but when that is all you got, you just do it.
I can't wait for all the hugs I will get and give. Some days I just feel so sad. I am not good about making new friends....as many of you know. I truly miss one special friend from Michigan. I know anytime I can make it back to Michigan, she will be smiling and holding out her arms for a hug.
On another subject --- I finally remembered to ask my Mom to try to find a certain cake mix for me. We have looked at all the stores here in Prescott and area --- no luck. She bought a couple for me and is mailing them out next week. I will finally be able to have my favorite cake! Thanks so much, MOM!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy Hallmark Day
oops--- I meant Happy Valentine's Day!
Sorry, I lost track of the month and did not get out any cards. I might do a Happy Shortest Month of the Year card .....
Anyways ---- Happy Valentine's Day to you all
Sorry, I lost track of the month and did not get out any cards. I might do a Happy Shortest Month of the Year card .....
Anyways ---- Happy Valentine's Day to you all
Friday, February 13, 2009
Friggatriskaidekaphobia
Can't let today go by without saying it:
Friday the Thirteenth is on a Friday this month.
And next month.
As I said in a comment I left on another bog: If anyone needs me, I'll be under the bed with some canned goods and a big bag of chips.
Friday the Thirteenth is on a Friday this month.
And next month.
As I said in a comment I left on another bog: If anyone needs me, I'll be under the bed with some canned goods and a big bag of chips.
Confused
Neither of us consider ourselves anything close to professional photographers, but we do have some interesting things on Flickr. Beautiful places like Sleeping Bear sand dunes and the Grand Canyon. Hawaii. The pyramids. Numerous cruise ships and their ports of call. The Vatican. Bronze pours at Arcosanti. So which of our photos do ya'll consider most worthy of your attention?
Behold the most viewed photo on our Flickr account:
Really, people? A toaster? Yeah? Huh. Wow.
Um... just really speechless.
Behold the most viewed photo on our Flickr account:
Really, people? A toaster? Yeah? Huh. Wow.
Um... just really speechless.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
