Shift Happens

Saw this today during a meeting at work.

This Ad Actually Made Me Cry

Austin, Day 2

So my bag showed up this morning at 9:00 am, an hour before my presentation. Needless to say, by the time I got there, I was pretty nervous. In fact, I was sweating like Marion Barry, and had to keep mopping my brow with a handkerchief to keep the sweat from dripping in my eyes. Sexy, eh? But my presentation actually went very well - though it lasted almost 5 hours! The participants all came up to me afterwards to thank me and tell me that I made a pretty difficult subject easy to understand. Tomorrow, I'm meeting with them again to see if what I taught them stuck, and to actually implement it into their actual work. I plan to actually check out some Austin music spots tomorrow night, and then I fly home early Wednesday morning. I can't wait to get home and see the FW and Kaleb. The FW's been out of town since last Thursday. Her sister had a baby and she drove out to Kentucky to visit, and is headed home tomorrow.

Austin

I've made it to Austin. My bags, however, haven't. Southwest seems to have forgotten to unload about half of the bags from my flight, and they're now on their way to El Paso, then LA and Oakland. They say they'll get to me tonight. I hope so, because I have a presentation at 10:00 am.

I'm still here

Hey folks. Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I've been alot busier than usual lately. I'm headed to Austin, TX for work and Sunday - giving a big presentation that I've been preparing for. It's also the start of soccer season, so I've been getting myself back in shape by playing pick-up as much as possible.

This Saturday is St. Patrick's Day, and for the 1st time since we've been together, I won't be spending it with my FW. She left this morning to visit her sister who just had a little boy. That now makes it Nieces 5 - Nephews 2. I've got to do double duty for the family since she won't be here. It's gonna be cold and blustery, but I think I'll somehow survive. The plan is to meet friends at The Big Jig, a huge block party downtown with beer, food and music. If it gets too cold, I'm sure I'll find a nice, cozy (as in packed to the rafters) pub to warm up in.

Men vs. Women

glumbert.com - How to Shower: Women vs. Men

Uncle Vance

My Uncle Vance died last week. He's my 3rd family member in little over a year to pass away. This is gonna sound coarse, but at least this wasn't a surprise. He'd been fighting cancer for a long, long time and was able to make his peace and leave on his own terms. Uncle Vance was a WW2 veteran, and I used to love staying up late and listen to him tell stories about the war, while he and my father and their brothers and sisters played cards, drank and smoked. He was always fun to be around - I can't remember a time that he didn't make me laugh. One story in particular will always stand out - how he beat up Hitler during the war (his actual words were that he kicked Hitler's ass). As a 3rd grader, I couldn't wait to tell my teachers that one. And yes, I got in trouble for arguing with them when they told me my Uncle hadn't beat up Hitler (he did, in fact, beat up his racist sergeant and spent a good deal of time in the brig during the push towards Germany).

Weekend Getaway

Headed out of town for the long weekend with the FW and friends. A weekend of skiing. Yeah, I know. I figure if it's gonna be cold outside, might as well make the most of it.

Why this family is supporting Obama

My wife loves Hilary Clinton. Absolutely loves her. As long as I've known her, she's wanted Hilary to run for President. But something interesting has happened - she's an Obama supporter, like me. Why? Because he's for a fresh start, a change. The Clinton's had 8 years to do their thing. Bush has had 8 years. Let's try something completely different. Things can only get better. As he says himself,

“I recognize there is a certain presumptuousness - a certain audacity - to this announcement. I know I haven’t spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I’ve been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change."

And here's something I picked up from The Carpetbagger Report, the years in elected office of those running for President:

* Obama: 10 years (7 state Senate, 3 U.S. Senate)
* Clinton: 8 years (8 U.S. Senate)
* Edwards: 6 years (6 U.S. Senate)
* Giuliani: 8 years (two, four-year mayoral terms)
* Romney: 4 years (one four-year gubernatorial term)
* McCain: 25 years (4 U.S. House, 21 U.S. Senate)

OBAMA!!!!

"The life of a tall, gangly, self-made Springfield lawyer tells us that a different future is possible. He tells us that there is power in words. He tells us that there is power in conviction. That beneath all the differences of race and region, faith and station, we are one people. He tells us that there is power in hope."

Still in 1st!!

It was close, but my Hoos just beat Maryland a few minutes ago, 69-65, for a season sweep and sole possesion of 1st place in the ACC!!

Halftime Show

In case you missed it, here is Prince's performance from last night.

Damn!!!

Best. Halftime. Show. Ever!!!

Prince is rockin' the shit out of Miami, y'all!

Hoo's Your Daddy?

UVa 68 - 66 Duke (in OT)!!!! 6-2 in the ACC - could we be at the Big Dance next month? Look at top 4 teams in the league right now. Of course, Carolina is tops - they're pretty f'in good this year. But the next 3 teams aren't your usual suspects - Va. Tech, BC and Virginia (all 6-2 in the league). Outstanding!

Over before it starts

Thanks Joe, it was nice knowing you.

“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”

Senator Joe Biden talking about Barrack Obama.

Don't you miss dating?

“Don’t you miss dating?” Uh oh! This is how Amber, my FW (Fabulous Wife for my new visitors) started a conversation not too long ago. This immediately put me into my GUY DEFENSIVE MODE – “Of course not, you’re perfect” or something to that effect.

As usual, I misinterpreted what she was saying. FW was talking about how much fun dating was for her and how she misses going out like we used to do. She’s right. Since we got the dog (who I wrote about earlier), we don’t really go out anymore. As wonderful as he is, he’s also fuckin’ neurotic, with serious separation anxiety issues (based, in no small part, on the fact that his previous owner died at home and he was inside with the body for a few days). If we leave him alone at night, he goes ape-shit, barking his fool head off. If we had a house, it wouldn’t be a problem, but we own a condo, with people living above us. We’ve recently found a few dog sitters, but haven’t really taken advantage of them yet. Wow, we sound pretty pathetic, don’t we? If aliens came down and observed us, they’d think we were the animal and the dogs were the intelligent species. I mean we clean up their shit, feed them, play with them whenever they want. Damn!

Sorry ‘bout that little detour. I was talking about dating, right? Anyway, I totally get what the FW was saying. Remember that feeling you would get in your gut when you would see someone you just started going out with? That same feeling you would get when a teacher would spring a pop quiz on you or call on you in class when you weren't paying attention - major butterflies in your stomach. I can remember when Amber and I 1st started dating (not just Amber, but anyone I dated. Sorry honey!), remembering how great she was and how she made me feel, but having a hard time remember her face. Anyone else know what I'm talking about? I miss that. I miss flirting when there were consequences. I'm still a big flirt, but both the object of my flirtation and I know nothing will come of it. I miss the 2nd date, because that meant she liked me enough to see me again. Nothing like a little validation, though the fact that she married my punk ass is pretty damn validating as well.

Full disclosure - I never dated much. I know, shocking. I didn't date at all in high school. Way too shy and self-conscious. I did have some MAJOR crushes though, especially on Kathy Murphy. She was the Andie to my Duckie (Pretty in Pink, children). That was pretty much my roll in high school - The Friend. Seriously, my life was a John Hughes movie. Duckie in Pretty in Pink, Kevin Dolenz in St. Elmo's Fire, you get the picture. It wasn't until my 2nd year at UVa (1st year was one long infatuation with Sophia DeSousa. English accent, punk dresser, need I say more), after I joined my fraternity that I developed something close to self confidence and started dating. 1st girfriend, Guia. Then I met Julie, and fell back into my Duckie mode for a year or so. Then there was Kathy. I seriously thought I'd marry her. We only dated for, what, 2 1/2 years, but they were good years (19-21). Sorry, I'm starting to channel Rob Fleming in High Fidelity. Great book by the way. Great author too. Actually, he's my favorite, and not just because he's an Arsenal fan. But I'm losing you now. Let me wrap this up by saying, I agree with my wife. I, too, miss dating. I'll write more on the ups and downs (mainly downs) of my dating past later on.

Golden Handcuffs

What do you do when your job bores you to tears, but pays you so well that there's no way you'd leave? I'm bored, bored, bored with my job. It's become so petty and brings me absolutely no joy. Oh, I've got plenty of work to do, but there's no sense of fulfillment with my work. I don't feel I'm actually doing anything of importance. That's not exactly true. I'm not doing anything that challenges me or makes me feel worthwhile. That, my friends, is an awful feeling.

Now, my FW, she has a job she absolutely loves; one in which she can see the difference she makes in people's lives. It doesn't pay a great deal of money, so there's no way in Hell I could just up and switch careers now.

A couple of years ago, I tried getting into the field that I think would bring me the most joy, workwise - working in politics. But God, the pay was more than insulting. There's no way I could have taken any of the offers I had and still been able to afford certain things - like food, or clothing. Maybe when I was younger - a whole lot younger - when a diet of Ramen noodles, pizza and Coke would have been awesome. But I'm married now, with a mortgage. I always wondered why the radicals from the 60's sold out. Now I know. You have to make choices, and my chance to do what I want to do sadly passed me by years ago.

Unconditional

There was a time, not that long ago, that the FW and I would get in the same silly argument over and over. The topic? Did our dog love us or not. Seriously. FW has a huge heart and absolutely believes that our dog loves us as much as we love him. Being a premature curmudgeon (I'm only 38 but have started acting and thinking like a man twice my age) I said "of course not, he's dog. Why do you want to give human emotions to an animal?" But lately, looking at my little man, I think my FW was absolutely right. Every morning she wakes up before me and takes him outside. The 1st thing he does when he comes back inside is run, full steam, back to the bedroom and onto the bed to see me. When she goes to bed before I do, he will sit at my feet, sometimes until 1:00 am, until I'm ready for bed. He really is my shadow. When I'm feeling down, or reflective, he somehow knows this and will lay his little head in my lap, let out a deep sigh, and force me to pay attention to him - somehow he knows this will cheer me up. And the look in his eyes, man, let me tell you, he could melt the coldest of hearts.

Now, I know my siblings, who both have children will laugh at this as the ramblings of a crazy man, and will tell me there's no love like the love of a child. They may be right, but as I have no kids yet, I can't compare the two (and since they've never owned a dog as adults, neither can they), but the fact that he never, ever gets upset with me and his whole purpose in life somehow seems to be to make me happy, well, that's pretty damn cool.



Kaleb

Is It Common For The Police To Call For Backup On A Routine Traffic Stop?

Yesterday, on the way home from work, I stopped to get my oil changed. After leaving Jiffy Lube, I was making a left hand turn, and noticed a motorcycle cop behind me. As soon as I made the turn, he turned on his siren and pulled me over. I knew I turned my signal on, and my lights had just been checked at Jiffy Lube, so why was he pulling me over. I rolled down the window and he said "Hey Buddy, you know it's illegal to have a radar detector?" Radar detector? What was he talk... oh, it was my Sirius satellite radio. It does look a lot like a radar detector. Anyway, he made me show him the radio and asked if there was somewhere else I could put it. I told him that wouldn't really solve the problem, since anywhere I put it, it would still look like a radar detector. As this was going on, 2 patrol cars pulled up. I guess he needed backup on a radar detector stop. Very weird.

We Are So Screwed

Why won't the U.S. press do reports like this?