Category: Deep Thoughts

Good Drinkx, Good Conversation

After 3 years of e-mailing, sending packages and working on what has become a major project in my life, Editor B and I finally met.

He and his family evacuated from hurricane Gustav.  When their respective schools decided to close until Monday, they decided to head back to Btown.

He sent a twitter update inviting all to Upland at 8pm, also sending me an email asking I attend.  I had a busy day, but I wouldn’t miss this for anything in the world.  I didn’t want to miss this chance.  The last time we tried to meet, tornado warnings and a worried wife kept us from meeting.  B was heading back to New Orleans the next morning, on the long road home to rebuild their home and New Orleans after Katrina.

When I first arrived on the scene, I was almost too afraid to enter.  Upland was severely crowded, something I had never seen before.  People were parking up and down the entire block.  I was lucky and got a parking spot right next to the door.

After waiting a while in the standing room only crowd, I introduced myself.  H-T columnist Mike Leonard and his wife were there as well, then the interesting Paul Smedberg arrived.  We finally got a table a few minutes later.  Paul reminds me of a comic, but I can’t remember his name at the moment.

It was nice to meet Mike, as I’ve emailed him a few times and I’m sure he thought I was some local crazy of some sort.

I was amazed at the subjects of conversation, ranging from books to the lack of economic prosperity in this town.  We went on to talk about how children change your life (not in a bad way B), to the founding ideas of the Green party (which I didn’t really understand until last night).

Back to the subject at hand, It was a pleasure to finally meet you B.  You’re everything and more that I had expected you to be.  Most conversations I have are intellectually lacking, last night was a much needed shot to the brain.

Hopefully I can make the trip down to New Orleans sometime soon. 

I Give Up

Yesterday, the new motherboard I ordered arrived.  I spent the majority of last night replacing what I believe is a bad motherboard.

The new one is significantly different than the old one, as the connections are in different places and it has different ports, i.e. PCI Express.

After connecting and tightening everything I plugged the power in to test, nothing.

I’ve gave up.  I’m tired of spending countless hours upon hours to try to fix it.  I’m taking it to an expert in a few hours.  I hope that the new motherboard is fine, or my old one is okay.

I’ve also given up on something else.  I’m not going to build any PC’s anymore.  In this date and age, and since we get educational discounts through Dell and Apple, we have decided to now purchase computers instead of build.

I hope the costs to fix this problem aren’t huge.  If that is going to be the case, we are probably going to just buy a new computer.

The Old Just Got Older

Today is my dad’s 57th birthday.  Happy birthday dad!

I’ve really lost count of my dad’s age since about 1999.  It just doesn’t really matter to me anymore.

While he won’t be receiving any gifts right now, he does have something coming.

Bill Cosby is performing at the IU Auditorium in September, the first thing I thought of was dad.  When I was a child he spoke constantly of listening to Bill Cosby albums when he was a teenager.

Dad’s health hasn’t been too good recently.  I hope he can feel like a kid again, if just for one night anyway.

The Long & Short of It

Tomorrow is our 4th wedding anniversary.  Much has happened since that wonderful night in Bedford.

We didn’t really do much for our anniversary last year, so this year we are at least going out to eat at a nice place.

Rachel will have a surprise in store for her as well.

Sometimes it seems like we’ve been married forever, but then I look at people like her parents and B & XY and realize we’ve only just begun.

Coming from a broken home, I try as hard as I can to ensure I don’t fall into the same trap my parents fell into.  My father has been married to someone he hates for 21 years.  My mother has been married 3 times, she’s said that she’ll never get married again, and so far has kept up with that statement.

When I see the differences in our upbringings, I realize why I am the way I am, and why Rachel is the way she is.

Sometimes it makes me depressed that I wasn’t as lucky as her, but then I realize that I wouldn’t be who I am without what I had to endure.

Rachel, you are my rock!  Without you, I’m not sure exactly where I’d be right now.  I love you. 

The Cat is Out

Last week I sent an email to the entire ROX blogging crew, asking if they liked apples.

I was very surprised as to the response I got.

B is very curious about what my plans are, and even told me about a particular type of apple he enjoys.

MF told me that she isn’t particularly an apple person, but I have another idea which she might enjoy just as much.

J and Kelly both told me that they love apples and can’t wait to see what they shall receive.

I can’t hold this little secret any longer, so the cat is out of the bag folks’.

This is my apple tree.  When we first moved into our home, it looked like an overgrown bush.  With much trimming, I’ve turned it into a “happy tree” as I like to call it.  We’ve only had one harvest due to an ice storm last February.  My mother-in-law came and took all of those apples, which I didn’t mind.

We’ve been checking the apples every week to see if they are ripe.  They aren’t yet, but once they are your packages will be in the mail.

This year is a different story, as I want my ROX family to enjoy the fruits of my trees’ labor as well.  All of you have been like a family to me, in one way or another.  This is the least I can do to thank yall.

I don’t know the type of apple that grows from this particular apple tree.  They are green, medium to small sized, and quite tart.  They are best used for baking purposes.  My thought, send everyone a “apple crisp in a box kit!”

I also plan on sending Kelly and MF ROX Season Zero sets as well.

It bothers me that my search for help with this heat damage problem has led me nowhere.  Sometimes you have to find your own solution to problems, which is what I’m working on.  With the help of Photoshop for Video, I have learned a few things.  I hope to soon have the skills to correct this damage, and continue on my way of saving this beloved show for generations to come.

This show enlightened me in those key teen years.  It wasn’t about the drinkx, or the drugz, it was about keeping your mind open to new and unusual things.  Something that is still lacking in society today.  If I hadn’t stumbled upon J&B on the ROX playing on BCAT oh so many years ago, I very well could be in prison or dead by now.  Many who know me well, know that my life has been nothing but a story of hardship and overcoming seemingly impossible hurdles.  It will all be in my book.

I know I’m repeating myself, but this is the least I can do to thank everyone who participated in the show, whether as an active participant, or as a passive person who was just there when the camera was rolling.

I came into this as merely a fan, but I’m treated as if I’m a family member.  Words cannot describe how amazing that feels.

Numbered

My days with Morgenstern Home Services are numbered.  Today, expecting some sort of work to do, I was given the run-around.  I was told that the boss would get back with me, and he never called.  This can’t and won’t last much longer, in these trying times my pocketbook can’t take it.

I e-mailed the CSR and asked if I could come in tomorrow and Wednesday to work.  They said it would be okay.  I will also be working full-time at Technology Services for the month of August.

If I could only get a “permanent” solution.  I’ve been trying since September of 2006 with no real luck.  My wife thinks it would be a good idea for me to be in the university environment, so I have been trying hard to achieve a position at IU.  Here are some numbers to give you an idea of the sheer number of jobs I’ve applied to at IU.

# of jobs applied to:  61
# of interviews:  2

Most of these positions are “starter” office positions, which need little or no specialized skills mind you.  There have been a couple which tickle my fancy as they have been video related.

Those numbers don’t take into account the endless number of positions outside of IU that I have applied to as well.

In other IU news, I have finally received a university identification card.  I doubt it will help, but perhaps it might show some sign of permanence?

Not “Only” Anymore

On Monday, my daughter became a big sister!

Her mother gave birth to a baby boy, who’s name is Zayden Carmer.

While I haven’t been able to speak to Taylor much, she is very excited about her baby brother and loves him to death.

I’m happy that she’s happy, which is something that has been real lacking in her life lately.

Hopefully we will have a lot of fun this weekend when she comes over.

Back at the Olde TS

Today I have begun working at the Kelley School of Business in the Technology Services department again.  Right now I am only working on Thursday’s and Friday’s.

Hopefully this will give my ankle enough of a break to actually heal.  I hope so, as the pain is constant and uncomfortable.

I’m unsure how long I will stay with Morgenstern Home Services, as the hours have became not steady.  The price of gas is also really cutting into things, as I’ve had to fill up my tank typically twice a week.

I have sent an email to the CSR, and am awaiting a response as to when they would like me back.

The one thing that bothers me about leaving Morgenstern is the flexibility and the pay, as it is much more than I have made in a long time.  But the savings in fuel would more than make up for that difference in pay.

It’s one of those tough decisions that everyone has to make sometime in their lives.

Anything for My Grandpa

While in Oklahoma visiting my aunts, I went to look at an old radio that was my grandfather’s.  My aunt Laura has it in a storage trailer of hers, and said that I could have it.  While we did not have space for it to bring it back with us, I will make a trip to pick it up soon.

The trailer was very high off the ground, about 6 feet to be exact.  They had a pallet sitting on it’s side to climb up into it, and at the time I didn’t feel sure about climbing down it, so I jumped.  BIG MISTAKE!  I just found out today that I “might” have broken my right tibia.  The x-ray was inconclusive to a doctor and the x-ray tech.  They sent it off to a radiologist so I should find out tomorrow.

But I got these beautiful, incredible pictures of an item that is worth it’s weight in gold to me.

Many people may see those pictures and just see an old radio, I see something much different.

My grandfather was a radio & TV repairman for most of his professional career.  He was the ONLY one in Adair county, Oklahoma.  While in the navy during WWII, he installed radar systems on the pacific fleet.  This radio represents what my grandpa was, and what he loved.  He was always into “new technology” just as I am.  I think I get most of my curiosity about this from him.

He was the only grandfather I really knew, and I still miss him to this day.  I was given his truck when I was 19, due to my epilepsy and age it was wrecked.  I spent every dime I had to try to fix it, but could not.  This item will not be treated with the same reckless abandon.

Rufus, The Cardinal – Dead

I awoke this morning to read some really sad news.  One of my most favorite comedians, George Carlin  had died.

Warning:  This video is full of racy language and body movements.

At the age when most kids are really getting into music, I was listening to comedy.  With Carlin being my favorite.

He did a show at the IU Auditorium a few years ago, and I wanted to go.  At the time I couldn’t afford the $50 a seat price.

I hope he’s killin’ wherever atheists go.

He will be missed everywhere.