its just my notepad

alive

2011-09-10T23:20:00.000-05:00

Just thought I'd check in. Looks like it's been a while.

Best to smell

2009-10-24T13:41:00.003-05:00

It's terrible how time seems to fly and when you look back you think 'I didn't do nearly as much as it seemed'. While you are going strong in the midst of whatever it is you are doing you often feel like you are neck deep and there is time for nothing else, however, when hindsight kicks in you can see that for all your rushing, all your worry, all your consternation, in the long run not that much was really accomplished. The phrase 'stop and smell the roses' is a subtle but wise reminder that the more (and faster) we attempt to complete something, the more often we miss the one time opportunities that are occuring around us every day. Stop and smell today.

Sorry sorry sorry

2009-07-25T14:37:00.002-05:00

Here is a new post. Not because there is anything significant happening but because it was brought to my attention that it has been around six months since my last post. I have been neglecting this venue in favor of facebook, which allows me to keep up with a larger amount of people than this (I'm sure) underread blog. However I felt I should probably put something new here to prevent the site from drying up completely and blowing away. Maybe I'll start posting picures back on here, maybe I'll waste my time playing mafia wars (more likely). While I'm here I guess it would be wise to at least record something more noteable than my apology and reasonably wild ramblings. It's saturday and I have done absolutely nothing (so far) today - yet to come are walking the dogs, grocery shopping and eating whatever we find for supper. Stay tuned for more exciting news same mundane time, same mundane channel! Signing off! **plays Star Spangled Banner**

Christmas gifts

2009-01-09T17:47:00.007-06:00

One good gift one bad....at least the bad one will be around less time than the good one!

Bad gift - right after I opened it!
Then after it was re-wrapped!

Now for the good gift!
She was a gift from my wife, who found her through the internet and after a ten hour round trip to get her she is a welcome addition to our two regular children as well as our two other furry children. After more discussion about her name than we spent on the two regular children we settled on Zuzu, a nod to one of our favorite Christmas traditions, It's a Wonderful Life.

Snow Kiddin'

2008-11-30T14:32:00.002-06:00

Not even December and we get a winter "gift". I refuse to get out the snow blower yet. That's what four wheel drive was invented for.

2008-10-26T22:10:00.006-05:00

I love autumn in central Illinois - not really the temperature but definitely the colors. The family took a walk through a local nature preserve and took SEVERAL pictures. Here are some of my favorites.

Finally, another post

2008-10-14T20:14:00.002-05:00

Wow, I am so lazy. I'll check my e-mail and I'll check my facebook but I started this blog to type stuff and ...........sorry I get distracted easily. What mundane things have been occuring where I spend most of my time geographically? Well working of course (isn't that what everybody says when you ask them what they been up to, or is it just me?) . Currently I'm watching a baseball team that I don't follow beat a team that I don't like. Since my team was not able to get their act together this year (I blame it on management) I have to watch somebody else beat up on our rival in the post season. I hereby declare that I will try my best, to think about considering, writing here more often, when I remember to.

Some of my Pics

2008-08-03T22:23:00.008-05:00

I have always enjoyed taking pictures, but film is expensive and when I get started it's hard to stop, so the digital revolution was a great thing for me. Unfortunately, my little point and shoot digital camera ran away at Christmas and left no forwarding address. I have been reduced to taking pictures with my phone. (some of which are posted on my facebook and turned out very well BTW). So thanks to my extremely generous brother I am back in the digital camera scene and have posted some of my favorite ones here. (you can click on the pictures for a larger view)

I have always been fascinated by "industrial" photography - taking pictures of things that people take for granted or overlook.

We took these pictures the other day after we had walked from our house to a city park about 3 and a half miles away

Portraits are not usually my forte, but I thought this one turned out well - probably the content not the photographer!!!!

Nature is always a good bet for pictures....for those of you that know me it was a great accomplishment to get this second picture.

Reunions

2008-08-02T20:15:00.002-05:00

After 20 years back together again! Unfortunately not everyone could be there, but I know they were there in spirit. What a night, the 4 hours went by in a flash. The food was great, and the company better. It was great walking down memory lane with everybody there. Old stories were relived and new stories were given. I heard it mentioned that this should be done more often than every ten years and I wouldn't disagree.

Nothing new

2008-07-27T22:19:00.004-05:00

As promised, here is more of nothing from what we call home. This afternoon has consisted of a lousy finish to a race, talk of the Old Spice/Office Depot number 14 in 2009 and is currently being capped off by a 2 to 9 bottom of the seventh disappointing game against Booston (yes that was an intentional misspelling).
Since I mentioned in the last post that it had been too hot to mow.... I decided to post a picture of the backyard that I took last week when I broke down and finally tackled the grass. I was getting close to a - hey I need a baler - type situation, but I managed. Pic is from my phone because we have not replaced the camera which mysteriously disappeared right before Christmas.

Weddings and reunions coming soon to a blog near you!

2008-07-16T20:44:00.003-05:00

Today's update.....it's hot outside....I only had to work outside a little bit today but it was nearly unbearable for me. Did I mention it was hot today!? This is the first real heat that I have had to deal with since my heart attack, so I'm finding that I can't deal with it like I've been able to in the past. Take it easy and stay hydrated - that's my motto this summer. What happened to the weather we had around the 4th? It's 8:45 and it still feels like it's 82 degrees.
On another subject my collection of #20 Home Depot slash Tony Stewart memorabilia will probably get put into storage, at least my signed items. Now I'll have to change the number on the van window and possibly have to confront my mild distaste for Ryan Newman (if he drives for Stewart-Haas team next year). Stay tuned I'll probably have these Stewart updates as a regular thing since it is something I will keep up on.

If a blog falls in the forest..........

2008-07-10T22:00:00.003-05:00

If you post a blog and no one is there to read it - did you really post it? I guess I'm going to try to post something even if it is as mundane as saying I got up today, went to work, came home, decided it was too hot to mow the yard and then sat in my chair until I decided to write something on my blog which leads me to my opening statement. Some one told me once, no don't ask I don't remember who, that nothing ever disappears from the internet---information is like matter, it can't be destroyed. It is just changed into different forms. So, for better or worse, I have decided to chronicle my life for posterity so that when I am old (like 47 or something) and I tell some young child around me how things used to be I can look back to this and see how bad my memory really is. My class reunion is looming close (is it 5 or 10 or more?) and when you participate in these sorts of events it has a tendency to make you a little nostalgic. Well, it does me anyway. You start to think back on all the stuff that went on, good and bad - even though I think that in my case anyway most of the bad stuff has faded into the background. Is that typical? I don't know. My personality is just like that I guess. I am looking forward to seeing everyone who is coming (most of which I haven't seen since the last reunion).
I guess since I plan to write more here (we'll see how that goes), there will be a record to let every one know what happens. More thoughts later...after all it's just my notepad.

Not gone only behind

2008-03-21T20:30:00.002-05:00

Whoo.....it's been over a month since my last post. Between sickness and computer problems I haven't been able to get to it. Not much has occurred anyway except for the coming of spring (according to the calendar only). The new OS went fine on a old PC and is currently assisting us in live recording and CD burning. I hope everyone has a fine Easter holiday till next month (?)..........

Linux UBUNTU

2008-02-13T22:01:00.001-06:00

OOOBOONTOO.......I am seriously looking at OS changes (and I can't afford apple). It seems that this version of Linux is one of the easier to make the switch to. I'm in the process of installing it on and old computer which has no OS. Transferring from the live CD seems painfully slow, but maybe I'm just entirely too impatient. The graphic format is very close to windows. I have a CD coming for another version which I am going to try - Knoppix. Puppy Linux is another version I've looked at online (it claims it's a more compact version which requires less HDD space and less RAM) I guess we'll see.
Back to the install, I'll keep you apprized of the situation.

Busy, Busy?, Busy!

2008-02-08T20:39:00.000-06:00

A quick addition to my random thought list. We have been soooo busy at work that I have barely had time to even look at the computer (okay, thats a lie), I've just been busy with other things on the computer that I have let this thing go. Still working on the other blog (still top secret HA!). No not really but it's not ready for release to the general public as the web site that it is associated with is undergoing an overhaul and will be done in a week or so. Anyway I'm still here, and I will check in from time to time.

Blog Changes

2008-01-15T14:06:00.000-06:00

It looks as if this blog will probably steer more towards the personal than I had initially planned. I will (hopefully) be handling a new blog which will utilize the focused and specific portions of my brain. However, that said, it leaves only the disjointed and eclectic portions to use in this blog. Soooo.... we'll see how that works out. As this is a fairly new blog...and...I doubt anyone but me (possibly my sister) is reading this-- than I am basically talking to myself. Since I have had much practice in listening to myself (yes for many years) , it doesn't really matter if what I am writing makes any sense, because I have probably heard it before. If you are reading this (and you know who you are) stay tuned for ...........anything!

Sink or Swim?

2008-01-09T19:43:00.000-06:00

ARRRGH! I don't know about everywhere else put we are up to our eyes in water this week. Well not us personally but it seems like everywhere else you look there is more water than we know what to do with. We have spent the last two days at work helping those with too much of the stuff, get rid of it. (and wet carpet and pad and papers and magazines and cardboard boxes and .... you get the idea). This usually happens at least a couple of times a year. At least we can be thankful that we were not visited by tornadoes. Well, this too shall pass, cause it's Illinois and nothing stays the same for very long. Soon to come.... prepping for **shock** class reunion. Rest easy and listen for the siren.

Flying time

2007-12-26T20:07:00.000-06:00

It is amazing how time only flies when your not looking. If time passed at work as fast as the two weeks have passed since my last post I would look forward to work every day. The Christmas season is passed and was more enjoyable than I was anticipating. Those of you who know me know that Santa was a little short this year (he had a heart attack earlier this year and is still working out payment plans with the reindeer suppliers and so forth).
I was not in the holiday spirit, I did not want a tree. I did not want a wreath or a stocking, if you please. I was feeling rather grinchy in this most glorious season. I knew something was very wrong and I knew the reason. I decided to ignore it, it wouldn't go away. And then one day I realized, I had to make a change. I saw the bucket there, I thought I'd make a gift. And later on God blessed me, it caused a thinking shift. I looked at the holiday now, in a much much clearer way. It was a real thing in my life, not just something that you say. The gift is in the giving, not the thing or just how much. It's all about the attitude when other's lives you touch. So remember this in all the year, and not for just one day. It will help more than you know, as you travel on your way.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas season and looks forward to a new year. "Talk" to you next year.

It's Just.......NEW

2007-12-12T22:16:00.000-06:00

Well, thanks to my sister, I have become interested in this blogging thing. At this point in time I'm afraid my blog has no real direction. I have an inclination to look towards pod casting but be rest assured, I won't delve into that until I have a little more direction to what I'm after. No more for this post or it will digress into more of nothing than it is now.