I'm a Lotus Elise!
You believe in maximum performance and minimum baggage. You like to travel light and fast, hit the corners hard, and dance like there's no tomorrow.
"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
How are your New Years Resolutions going?
There were just a few things I really wanted to do this year. One was to take guitar lessons and start playing more regularly. I start lessons on Monday. :)
The other was to pick up French...but I haven't found any French speaking clubs, etc. I'll keep searching.
Finally, I wanted to spend more time in the yard...it's early yet...but I'm spending 30 minutes to an hour each day around the pond, etc. Fun stuff.
How are yours going?
The other was to pick up French...but I haven't found any French speaking clubs, etc. I'll keep searching.
Finally, I wanted to spend more time in the yard...it's early yet...but I'm spending 30 minutes to an hour each day around the pond, etc. Fun stuff.
How are yours going?
Monday, April 17, 2006
8th grade math
| You Passed 8th Grade Math |
 Congratulations, you got 9/10 correct! |
I have no idea which one is wrong! I wonder if they have a problem in their code...once question is listed with "None of the above" as the second option...when there are two value below it. Weird.
"What if" versus "I believe"
I've read a few books or seen a few books lately that really got the cognitive juices going.
Did anyone read, The Intimate Life of Abraham Lincoln? I was simply blown away at even the idea of the late President Lincoln being gay, or bi for that matter. It is a really interesting read. There are lots of letters, etc. that back up some of the authors conclusions...but so many folks who read the book (even more that have never read it) simpy say, "I don't believe that!".
How can they deny the evidence...sure, ignore the conclusion...but to not acknowledge the evidence is really frightening. Isn't being open minded about gathering all the facts you can and then form your conclusion...leaving room that others may conclude things differently?
How about, The Jesus Papers? Some of the concepts are simply astounding. The history of how the Bible came into being, etc. really revealed some ignorance on my part. "I believe" tended to get trumped quite often with "the fact is this". I wouldn't say it shook my religious beliefs as much as it made me ponder many of the things that are quoted completely out of context.
I had one Christian tell me, long, long ago, that she didn't believe in "thermal dynamics" simply because she refused to believe that God would create anything she didn't understand. She was obviously very young in her faith and knowledge of both the Bible and the world. There are hundreds of millions of things that we'll never be able to grasp. The fact that she is still on spiritual milk, rather than meat, wasn't a surprise to me. :)
Did anyone read, The Intimate Life of Abraham Lincoln? I was simply blown away at even the idea of the late President Lincoln being gay, or bi for that matter. It is a really interesting read. There are lots of letters, etc. that back up some of the authors conclusions...but so many folks who read the book (even more that have never read it) simpy say, "I don't believe that!".
How can they deny the evidence...sure, ignore the conclusion...but to not acknowledge the evidence is really frightening. Isn't being open minded about gathering all the facts you can and then form your conclusion...leaving room that others may conclude things differently?
How about, The Jesus Papers? Some of the concepts are simply astounding. The history of how the Bible came into being, etc. really revealed some ignorance on my part. "I believe" tended to get trumped quite often with "the fact is this". I wouldn't say it shook my religious beliefs as much as it made me ponder many of the things that are quoted completely out of context.
I had one Christian tell me, long, long ago, that she didn't believe in "thermal dynamics" simply because she refused to believe that God would create anything she didn't understand. She was obviously very young in her faith and knowledge of both the Bible and the world. There are hundreds of millions of things that we'll never be able to grasp. The fact that she is still on spiritual milk, rather than meat, wasn't a surprise to me. :)
Monday, April 10, 2006
Conspiracy Theory...
Perhaps the world is really more complex than I realized. Perhaps, the higher up government officials, and those even higher than that, are secretly plotting, strategizing, and thinking about both short-term and long-term effects of things.
Have you ever wondered why so many sitcoms, dramas, etc. have three or more kids per family...even though the national average is still two? Why don't 50% of married folks on these shows get a divorce...it's 50% nationally (actually a bit higher now)? What about those with ashma? Arthritis? Even diabetes? Where are all of those folks? What about overweight folks...or those that struggle with staying in shape by keeping a strict diet and going to the gym or running?
I know these aren't appealing concepts...that sexuality sells...as does one big happy family. But at what point does our entertainment and fantasies affect our realities?
Is there some conspiracy to have more kids than just two? If so...why? Is our economy and growth that closely linked to having more kids than fewer kids?
Have you ever wondered what would happen if folks realized that cell phones really are a nicety...not anything more? For the majority of us, an internet connection isn't needed either...we could live without it. A new car or car with less than 100K miles...not really a necessity at all. The lesser quality of American cars kind of reenforces these ideas...those cars rarely last like a Japanese or European car. Why? Why do American car companies want us to either a) buy a new car every 50K miles...or b) put tons of maintenance costs into our American cars? It just seems weird to me. Don't 3-year leases imply that most folks really shouldn't own a car more than 3 years before changing them out? Don't 1 year warranties imply that the product probably won't really last reliably more than a year? Even cell phone contracts being one year, sometimes two years implies that we should get a new plan and new phone at the end of that time...but do we really need one?
What if America realized it didn't need to consume as much as it did? It would be a global impact. Everything from food, to clothes, to cars, to cell phones...why do we have this desire to consume (shop, eat, have the "newest", keep up with the "Jones", etc)? And how much of that is fed to us rather than it being selfgenerated?
Just random thoughts on a Monday morning.
Have you ever wondered why so many sitcoms, dramas, etc. have three or more kids per family...even though the national average is still two? Why don't 50% of married folks on these shows get a divorce...it's 50% nationally (actually a bit higher now)? What about those with ashma? Arthritis? Even diabetes? Where are all of those folks? What about overweight folks...or those that struggle with staying in shape by keeping a strict diet and going to the gym or running?
I know these aren't appealing concepts...that sexuality sells...as does one big happy family. But at what point does our entertainment and fantasies affect our realities?
Is there some conspiracy to have more kids than just two? If so...why? Is our economy and growth that closely linked to having more kids than fewer kids?
Have you ever wondered what would happen if folks realized that cell phones really are a nicety...not anything more? For the majority of us, an internet connection isn't needed either...we could live without it. A new car or car with less than 100K miles...not really a necessity at all. The lesser quality of American cars kind of reenforces these ideas...those cars rarely last like a Japanese or European car. Why? Why do American car companies want us to either a) buy a new car every 50K miles...or b) put tons of maintenance costs into our American cars? It just seems weird to me. Don't 3-year leases imply that most folks really shouldn't own a car more than 3 years before changing them out? Don't 1 year warranties imply that the product probably won't really last reliably more than a year? Even cell phone contracts being one year, sometimes two years implies that we should get a new plan and new phone at the end of that time...but do we really need one?
What if America realized it didn't need to consume as much as it did? It would be a global impact. Everything from food, to clothes, to cars, to cell phones...why do we have this desire to consume (shop, eat, have the "newest", keep up with the "Jones", etc)? And how much of that is fed to us rather than it being selfgenerated?
Just random thoughts on a Monday morning.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Vacation!
I'm off to the warmth of the Carribean for 8 days! WOOT! We'll be on Princess Cruise Lines.
I was reviewing the itinerary and notices the temps in March are 68-86...wow! That's warm!
I was reviewing the itinerary and notices the temps in March are 68-86...wow! That's warm!
Friday, February 17, 2006
Ends justify the means...even if the ends are yet determined
Politically, I'm very perplexed at GWB and Antonio Gonzales' attitude about wire tapping americans...regardless of whom they call. The fact that they are only wire tapping cell phones (so they claim) is red flag number one. The fact that they have 72 hours to file the paperwork, but claim it's just too hard (wtf?!) is red flag number two. But to throw a thwarted 2002 attack on L.A. into the fray...when the intel for it was NOT established through wire taps, in fact the arrests weren't even made by U.S. intelligence is red flag number three.
Sorry, Mr. President...I can't buy that you are protecting me by stealing my rights.
Sorry, Mr. President...I can't buy that you are protecting me by stealing my rights.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Cell phone...
I haven't had a cell phone for about 15-18 months now and I really don't miss it. However, for some reason, being a tech-geek, folks feel it's my obligation to have a cell phone. Not just an every day cell phone either, but a state-of-the-art, download-to-your-life, how-did-I-ever-live-without-this type of cell phone. Hey folks...those phones cost a ton of money ($199 and up WITH a 2 year contract @ $45/mo = $1279.00 total over 2 years...ouch). If you want to download ringtones, etc., it's 10cent per KB...I've no idea how much each ringtone would cost. And let's admit it, they don't sound near as groovey coming through a 5mm speaker like the commercial shows.
Do I really have to buy a cell phone? Seriously, I don't miss it. I enjoy my time driving and listening to NPR or a CD (not to mention I'm not as distracted). Am I allowed to gag on the garbage that keeps getting fed to me in needing a cell phone?
Do I really have to buy a cell phone? Seriously, I don't miss it. I enjoy my time driving and listening to NPR or a CD (not to mention I'm not as distracted). Am I allowed to gag on the garbage that keeps getting fed to me in needing a cell phone?
Thursday, January 26, 2006
"On the edge" feeling
Have you ever felt like you are just hanging on by a thread...like you could go either way, either good or bad, in certain factors in life?
I feel like this right now for financial. I'm fairly debt-free except my house of course. My only monthly bills are car insurance. Quarterly, I have the waste disposal service ($70) and World of Warcraft ($45) and yearly I have my car registration ($150ish). I should be hording cash into my saving account...but other expenses keep rising up to cover my extra cash flow. :) Food is a big one...isn't it nice to experiment with different foods, wines, have a dinner party, etc. without worrying about money? I'm also looking at getting a new car soon...my car is nearly 7 years old with 144,000 miles. But my goal is to get $10,000 saved up before buying my next car. :)
Hobbies are another thing I feel on edge about. I still love volleyball...but my shoulder is aching at night, my knees hurt going up and down the stairs, and even my back gets sore from playing. Perhaps it's time to give that up? Skiing is still amazingly fun, but it's expensive (see above paragraph), uses up my entire weekend, and is quite dangerous...at least the way I ski. :) I also want to play more guitar...but that would require me getting another guitar as I don't have an accoustic guitar...I do have a classical and 2 electric guitars. But there is a gorgeous guitar down at the store that is AMAZING!...but out of my self-imposed budget. :(
Maybe it's just an early case of cabin fever...I can't buy plants on the way home and work in the yard like I do in the spring and summer! If so, it sure did hit me early this year!
I feel like this right now for financial. I'm fairly debt-free except my house of course. My only monthly bills are car insurance. Quarterly, I have the waste disposal service ($70) and World of Warcraft ($45) and yearly I have my car registration ($150ish). I should be hording cash into my saving account...but other expenses keep rising up to cover my extra cash flow. :) Food is a big one...isn't it nice to experiment with different foods, wines, have a dinner party, etc. without worrying about money? I'm also looking at getting a new car soon...my car is nearly 7 years old with 144,000 miles. But my goal is to get $10,000 saved up before buying my next car. :)
Hobbies are another thing I feel on edge about. I still love volleyball...but my shoulder is aching at night, my knees hurt going up and down the stairs, and even my back gets sore from playing. Perhaps it's time to give that up? Skiing is still amazingly fun, but it's expensive (see above paragraph), uses up my entire weekend, and is quite dangerous...at least the way I ski. :) I also want to play more guitar...but that would require me getting another guitar as I don't have an accoustic guitar...I do have a classical and 2 electric guitars. But there is a gorgeous guitar down at the store that is AMAZING!...but out of my self-imposed budget. :(
Maybe it's just an early case of cabin fever...I can't buy plants on the way home and work in the yard like I do in the spring and summer! If so, it sure did hit me early this year!
Friday, January 20, 2006
Wine Tasting Results - January
Whites:
1) Chateau St. Jean, Viognier, 2002 -- $14 (great with fruit!)
2) 7 Heavenly Chards, Chardonay, 2003 -- 16 (fruit and cheese)
3) Fetzer, Gewurztraminer, 2004 -- $15 (great with sharp cheddar!)
Reds:
4) Ecco Demani, Chianti, 2003 -- $11 (meat dish, lasagna, heavy meal, etc.)
5) Vivac Winer, Refosco, 2004 -- $15 (very dry oak/nut flavor -- New Mexico wine!)
6) Hartfort, Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast), 2001 -- $15 (yummy)
Dessert Wine:
7) Chocolate Cherry Velvet (Honey/Cherry wine) -- $20 (incredible!)
The Mountain Meadery
3701 G Rd.
Palisade, CO 81526
1) Chateau St. Jean, Viognier, 2002 -- $14 (great with fruit!)
2) 7 Heavenly Chards, Chardonay, 2003 -- 16 (fruit and cheese)
3) Fetzer, Gewurztraminer, 2004 -- $15 (great with sharp cheddar!)
Reds:
4) Ecco Demani, Chianti, 2003 -- $11 (meat dish, lasagna, heavy meal, etc.)
5) Vivac Winer, Refosco, 2004 -- $15 (very dry oak/nut flavor -- New Mexico wine!)
6) Hartfort, Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast), 2001 -- $15 (yummy)
Dessert Wine:
7) Chocolate Cherry Velvet (Honey/Cherry wine) -- $20 (incredible!)
The Mountain Meadery
3701 G Rd.
Palisade, CO 81526
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Play21
My new play list I ventured out a bit...many of the song I'd heard one time and purchased them from iTunes. Other oldies came to me from friends...I had to go out and buy Concrete Blonde's Recollection CD!
01 Blue Orchid - The White Stripes
02 Portions for Foxes - Rilo Kiley
03 Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1 - The Flaming Lips
04 The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
05 Free Until They Cut Me Down - Iron & Wine
06 Mexican Moon - Concrete Blonde
07 The Town That You Live In - Sherwood
08 Violet - The Birthday Massacre
09 Home (Album Version) - Michael Bublé
10 Empathy - Crosstide
11 In This Moment's Time - The Coral Sea
12 Release the Squid (Box 6) - The Deathray Davies
13 Joey - Concrete Blonde
14 Shadows of Ourselves - Thievery Corporation
15 You're Beautiful - James Blunt
01 Blue Orchid - The White Stripes
02 Portions for Foxes - Rilo Kiley
03 Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1 - The Flaming Lips
04 The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
05 Free Until They Cut Me Down - Iron & Wine
06 Mexican Moon - Concrete Blonde
07 The Town That You Live In - Sherwood
08 Violet - The Birthday Massacre
09 Home (Album Version) - Michael Bublé
10 Empathy - Crosstide
11 In This Moment's Time - The Coral Sea
12 Release the Squid (Box 6) - The Deathray Davies
13 Joey - Concrete Blonde
14 Shadows of Ourselves - Thievery Corporation
15 You're Beautiful - James Blunt
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Music: Clap your hands say yeah
Oh my...what a different sounding band. I totally dig them. "The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth" is so radically happy that it's hard not to dance to it. I want to get a webcam and lipsync/do silly things while that song plays just to see if it'll go around the internet!
(on a slightly related note) Thanks to my friend, Brad, I have discovered http://www.pandora.com. It lets you create channels and recommends/fills in other songs for ones you may want to order. Great stuff. Best of all, it's still free.
(on a slightly related note) Thanks to my friend, Brad, I have discovered http://www.pandora.com. It lets you create channels and recommends/fills in other songs for ones you may want to order. Great stuff. Best of all, it's still free.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Monday, December 19, 2005
Music: Iron & Wine
So I recently purchased the soundtrack to "Garden State" which featured some incredible music. It's mostly soft, very folk, but just amazing. Coincidently, I saw the movie, "In Good Company" with Dennis Quaid, Scarlet Johannsen, and Topher Grace. Excellent movie...great to watch on a snowy day, or as a date film, or as a nice "pick me up" film. Great underlying themes, etc...actually kind of surprising that it's so darn good.
A commonality between the Garden State soundtrack and In Good Company soundtrack is an artist named Sam Beam, from his group called Iron & Wine. Very soft, folk-like, but amazingly deep and thoughtful.
One theme of one of his songs, "Such Great Heights", is how everything looks perfect from so far away. Isn't this true? Ever seen a low quality picture, thumbnail size, that was just amazing...but when you blew it up to become your desktop wallpaper, it was full of imperfections? How about other folks lives? From a distance, they seem so perfect and complete. But upon closer inspection, they contain blemishes, stains, and scars you'd never have guessed from glancing.
Sometimes we are lucky...our closest friends, family, and significant others want that closer look. They want to see both the valleys and the hills of our life. It is there that they'll see the refreshing springs, the snow covered peaks that glisten, and the fields grass that sway in the storm.
Be prepared to catch your breath when taking that closer look. The beauty of great detail is often overwhelming at first.
A commonality between the Garden State soundtrack and In Good Company soundtrack is an artist named Sam Beam, from his group called Iron & Wine. Very soft, folk-like, but amazingly deep and thoughtful.
One theme of one of his songs, "Such Great Heights", is how everything looks perfect from so far away. Isn't this true? Ever seen a low quality picture, thumbnail size, that was just amazing...but when you blew it up to become your desktop wallpaper, it was full of imperfections? How about other folks lives? From a distance, they seem so perfect and complete. But upon closer inspection, they contain blemishes, stains, and scars you'd never have guessed from glancing.
Sometimes we are lucky...our closest friends, family, and significant others want that closer look. They want to see both the valleys and the hills of our life. It is there that they'll see the refreshing springs, the snow covered peaks that glisten, and the fields grass that sway in the storm.
Be prepared to catch your breath when taking that closer look. The beauty of great detail is often overwhelming at first.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Too much in my head...
My mind sure does seem to race at times...I seriously thought all the trains of thought that come through the station would be slowing down.
Work has been very interesting. There are shuffles of personnel going on, inside scoops I didn't know about previously regarding my new boss, and a really good friend at work who may be moving to California :(
Home has been going a hundred miles an hour as well. Scott and I hosted Thanksgiving this year. A total of 20 were in the house...and 6 dogs (2 were puppies)! There was my mom, sister, her partner, 3 of their kids (my neices), one neices fiance, another neices boyfriend, my dad, his wife, my step brother and sister (who'd I'd never met before!), my brother and his wife, their three girls, and a friend of mine from high school, Dr. Dave....then scott and me. Wow...that was a lot of folks!
No biggie...it's a long weekend to recover...but Dec 3rd, the Saturday after that, was our latest wine tasting party. Great fun...I'll have to type the list up and post it here...fun, fun, fun.
Work has been very interesting. There are shuffles of personnel going on, inside scoops I didn't know about previously regarding my new boss, and a really good friend at work who may be moving to California :(
Home has been going a hundred miles an hour as well. Scott and I hosted Thanksgiving this year. A total of 20 were in the house...and 6 dogs (2 were puppies)! There was my mom, sister, her partner, 3 of their kids (my neices), one neices fiance, another neices boyfriend, my dad, his wife, my step brother and sister (who'd I'd never met before!), my brother and his wife, their three girls, and a friend of mine from high school, Dr. Dave....then scott and me. Wow...that was a lot of folks!
No biggie...it's a long weekend to recover...but Dec 3rd, the Saturday after that, was our latest wine tasting party. Great fun...I'll have to type the list up and post it here...fun, fun, fun.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
My first SONY "music" CD
So I received my first Sony "music" CD that I can't play on my computer...which sucks.
So, part of the settlement is they have to be willing to exchange that with a non-crappy-software CD AND give you the MP3 files (if you so desire).
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp
I thought I was getting a really neat CD with Cyndi Laupers new "The Body Acoustic"
So, part of the settlement is they have to be willing to exchange that with a non-crappy-software CD AND give you the MP3 files (if you so desire).
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp
I thought I was getting a really neat CD with Cyndi Laupers new "The Body Acoustic"
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Defining BS
Yep...BS = Bullshit. Interesting article:
http://www.runeguild.com/Forum/thread.php?threadid=5832&sid=
http://www.runeguild.com/Forum/thread.php?threadid=5832&sid=
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Donuts...
Picked up a friend today from Dunkin' Donuts...he was turning his car in to be detailed...anyhow, they are a really good donut, but nothing like the Dunkin Donuts I had in Japan. I love a few Krispy Kremes...but I can take it or leave it. I also like the apple fritters at Safeway (as my waist is testifying).
I really need to starting eating a bit more on the healthy side. I found a place near work that has an amazing lunch! You can get Quiche (? on spelling) and a huge baby green salad for $4.95...or a 1/2 sandwich and salad for $5.45, or a full sandwich and salad for $6.45. Incredibly healthy, tastes amazing, and I love the service there. :)
I really need to starting eating a bit more on the healthy side. I found a place near work that has an amazing lunch! You can get Quiche (? on spelling) and a huge baby green salad for $4.95...or a 1/2 sandwich and salad for $5.45, or a full sandwich and salad for $6.45. Incredibly healthy, tastes amazing, and I love the service there. :)
Monday, November 07, 2005
The NFL and T.O.
Even though I'm not a fan of T.O. (Terrell Owens), I'm glad he was put on T.O. (Timeout) for the rest of the season. It's not as if he's had to work an hour of mandatory O.T. (Over Time) in his self-centered life...maybe this will be a wakeup call for him.
Seriously...my only concern for him was all the Fantasy Football fans that had him picked for the season. T.O. was living the fantasy life...welcome to reality big guy!
Here's a great article on T.O. simply not being worth all the trouble: http://nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/9025428
And a sweet quote: Once again we have learned the truth. The truth is this: There is no "I" in T.O. or in team. But there are three in narcissistic.
Seriously...my only concern for him was all the Fantasy Football fans that had him picked for the season. T.O. was living the fantasy life...welcome to reality big guy!
Here's a great article on T.O. simply not being worth all the trouble: http://nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/9025428
And a sweet quote: Once again we have learned the truth. The truth is this: There is no "I" in T.O. or in team. But there are three in narcissistic.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Ruthann!
For Ruthann...alternating fast and slow til cooldown.
Ruthann likes to run...a lot! So this should help her alternate her insane pace with her relaxed one!
Ruthann likes to run...a lot! So this should help her alternate her insane pace with her relaxed one!
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