Don't Panic

One of these days I'll start taking my own advice. I recently told a very, very close friend to remain calm and Don't Panic about their school, etc... Well what was I doing earlier this week? Seems I didn't have as much to worry about as I thought. I got the first assignment back from my power electronics class with a grade of 10/10. Woo Hoo!!! Guess I'm smarter than I give myself credit for. Well, maybe not, I just ended that sentence with a preposition. DOH!

Tired

Have I bitten off more than I can chew?

It's only Tuesday and I really need it to be Friday. I'm only two weeks into the semester and I'm starting to burn out already. Working full time, working on my school work, packing my stuff and getting a house ready to sell... guess that's why I'm tired.

Oh well, it should all be worth it in the end.

In Memoriam

As part of of the 2,996 9/11 tribute, I will be honoring Joseph O. Pick of Hoboken, NJ.


Joseph was one of thousands of people who were just going to work in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 to just do their job like they did everyday. He was the vice president of Fiduciary Trust International. Joseph was also a devoted father, a story in the New York Times related a tale of how, one Christmas he secretly showed up Christmas Eve, dressed as Santa Claus, to surprise his daughter, Jeannette.

Joseph was 40 years old when he was killed in the attack on the Trade Center. He is survived my his wife, Marie and his daughter, Jeannette.

This tribute was important to me because, as a soldier a lot of people consider me a hero for what I do. I do appreciate the sentiment and am somewhat humbled by the support I have received over the past years, but sometimes we forget the on that horrible day, there were more heroes than just the soldiers, firemen and police.

September 11, 2001 - Never Forget

Mmmm Toasty

Well, I seem to be slowly recovering from my self-barbecuing. At least the discomfort has subsided enough that I can sleep at night. Maybe in the future when someone recommends I wear sun screen, I should listen.

I got the results back from the vet. Jasmine's lump was non-cancerous, it was a type of cyst. Yay! Now the hard part is keeping her from licking the stitches. I have to make sure the incision stays clean and check it for signs of infection. It looks totally grody, so I guess I am just looking for blood or pus or something that looks even worse.

Relief (For Now)

Joy! Jasmine made it through surgery with flying colors. The vet said her pre-op blood work results were "execptional" for a dog her age. The lump has been sent to the lab for testing to see if it is a tumor or just a cyst.

She is resting comfortably, sleeping on the couch. The hard thing now is going to be making sure she does rest. I hope I have as much energy as she does when I am 13 (91 in human years).

I'm off to an old-fashioned Lancaster County Luau this evening.

Lump

Jasmine is going to the vet's for surgery tomorrow. She has a lump on her breast. Unfortunately, the only way to tell if it is a tumor or not is to cut it out and send it to the lab (the place with test equipment, not the dog). The vet did an EKG to make sure she could be anesthetized, which she passed with flying colors. I'm sure everything will be OK, but am still a little worried.

Wish her well.

Hiya Chester...

Well, I've finally stared drilling again, er, doing my reserve duty for you civilians. It's actually good to be (kinda) back in the Army. So far I like my new unit. There are a few glitches, since most of the battalion is either deployed or gainfully employed elsewhere. I have a lot of schooling ahead of me... I have to go to drill sergeant school, finish my basic non-commissioned officer course, etc.

First thing yesterday morning, I was nominated to be the acting first sergeant. DOH! I was all like, "well I don't know anyone here or how things are run, but I'll do the best I can". Well, I didn't loose anyone, mission complete.

Typical reserve unit, the soldiers are always trying to come up with things to do to ward off the boredom monster. Hopefully I can be creative enough to keep the idle hands busy.

Like the old commercials said, "it's not just a job, it's an adventure".

Naked Porch Blogging

This is my first naked porch blog. Yes, you read that right, I'm naked on the porch, blogging. OK, what could be so important that I would be blogging naked on the porch??? Well, it seems Lance Bass from NSync is gay. Talk about your wastes of time for the AP. Lance Bass is gay. NO SHIT!!! The AP has nothing else to report about? What about the war in Iraq? The Israel-Lebanon conflict? Afganistan? Anything else? Lance Bass, gay, I can hardly believe that!

Anyhoo, back to my nakedness and drinking.

Peace, out!!!

My Nomadic Life

I am in the process of moving out of my house (yuck). My stuff is currently in three different places. I took a load to the storage locker tonight, amazing how much shit I can fit in my car... four outdoor chairs with cushions, a microwave cart, two sleeping bags, a sleeping bag mat and a few miscellaneous lawn chairs.

Oh, yeah, I just got contacts for the first time. Not sure if I like them or not. My eyes don't like being touched, but they are starting to cooperate more.

When I make life changes, I go all out!

The Cutest Little Dog, Ever

This is Jasmine, the cutest little dog ever. She is a 12 year old American Cocker Spaniel (she will be 13 on July 4th). Well, to be politically correct, she is a German-American Cocker Spaniel since she was born in Ansbach, Germany.

In addition to playing tug with a rope and chasing tennis balls, her other hobbies include dining on cat poo and "rearranging" the trash can. She also enjoys going for walks and exploring construction sites.

I'm not dead yet

Well, my class is finally over. Haven't received word of a grade, hope I passed. Yes, I have been slacking on the blog thing. I do have some idea for blogs, just need to take a few minutes and write them.

Brain Frappe

Well, I had a great weekend, as usual. Drank a lot of beer and other assorted intoxicants Saturday night and played tour guide in Gettysburg on Sunday. I had my class tonight, can't wait 'til it is over. Just one more week, the summer class thing has its ups and downs. Up is that it is only 6 weeks, the down is that it is 15 weeks worth of information to digest. I feel as if someone has opened my skull, scooped out my brains, plopped them in a blender, hit frappe for a minute and poured them back into my skull. Mmmm... brain frappe.

I was hoping to post more pictures, but blogger seems to be running a little slow tonight, maybe some other time.

I'm looking forward to a NYC trip this coming weekend! Should be a great time, I will be travlling with my most favorite travel buddy.

TTFN

OK, here is a new post

Swish, swish, swish... (sound of broom sweeping).

Well, I haven't gone totally mental, yet. My class does seem to be getting easier as time goes on. Maybe the summer class deal isn't so bad after all.

This will be a short post, I am very tired. Seems I have someone who likes to keep me "up" late. Who can say no to a pretty face?

The Great Rubber Band Debacle, Part Deux

Happy day! The Alliance Pale Gold Crepe, Size 62 rubber bands have finally arrived. All is well in the world. At height of the crisis, the following were involved in ensuring the proper rubber bands were used: (1) product engineer, (1) engineering manager, (1) engineering secretary, (1) customer service supervisor, (1) customer service rep., (1) value added manufacturing supervisor, (1) field sales rep., (1) mechanical engineer and I believe a partridge in a pear tree may have been involved.

Well, I had my first graduate class last night. Seems the class started last Thursday, not last night like the rest of the classes. That puts me about the equivalent of one week behind, luckily the professor is giving me a chance to catch up. I think this will be my first and last summer course I take. Cramming 15 weeks worth of knowledge into 6 weeks is about as painful as it sounds.

In other news, I just read that Lew Anderson has passed away at the age of 84. RIP Clarabell.

Oh Joy, Pictures!!!

OK, I think I figured out how to post pictures. I'm not retarded after all.

These photos were taken last Sunday as I wandered aimlessly through Harrisburg, PA. I will post more later.

Front of Dauphin County Courthouse















Abandoned Railroad tracks















Looking North on Front Street















Grave of John Harris

The Great Rubber Band Debacle

Hello all,

Still haven't figured out the picture posting thingy...

I have been warned about mixing blogging and work, but here goes, anyway. I am an electrical engineer. In college I took 9 credits of calculus, including differential equations, 9 credits of physics through quantum physics and other miscellaneous interesting, but often painful classes. OK, back on track. One of my more recent projects I have tackled is how to ship parts to one of my customers without the rubber band around them breaking. After many hours of troubleshooting, meetings and general head scratching, it was determined that not all rubber bands are created equal. It turns out that the Alliance Pale Gold Crepe, size 62 is the creme de la creme of rubber bands. Those of you considering a career in engineering can now see the exciting type of project to which you may end up applying all that good knowlege.

Free Peters!!!

I'm A Museum Groupie

I was hoping to post some pics, but it seems either I am a total retard or blogger isn't cooperating with me. Probably a little of each. So, anyhoo, I realized this weekend I have accidentally become a museum groupie. Oh, and I coined a new (as far as I know) blog term. Blacker = blog + slacker (n) one who does not post on a schedule soon enough as to please their blog buddies. Ok, back to the museum groupie business: my ex-wife works in the museum field, she is doing basically the same job now that she did before I helped her through 4 years of college (note bitterness) and my new "significant other" interns at a museum. Totally by coincidence, of course, but enough to make me a museum groupie. Which is fine by me, I do enjoy museums... just one of many quirks that make up the freakiness that is me. Hopefully I figure out how to post pics soon, I have some good ones, in my not-so-humble opinion, to share.

TTFN, Brian

Das Bier Ist Gut!

Well, I was voted into the Lancaster Liederkranz tonight. http://lancasterliederkranz.com/index.htm

As a result, I may have been "delta-uniform-india". Those of you who have been in the service know exactly what I am talking about. I drank from the "boot", a Deutscher custom.

Ok, Carnealian, http://carnealian.blogspot.com , my most favorite blog buddy, suggested I:

1. Grab the nearest book
2. Open it to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence
4. Copy it onto your blog/journal along with these instructions

"She was being carried into the yard, her arms around firm, powerful shoulders."
So the fifth sentence on page 123 of the nearest book is: "TRUST-To what degree and on what levels am I willing to let the other person gain access to the things about me that I don't want everybody to know?" Which is from Adult Children Of Alcoholics by Janet Woititz. Yes, I understand the irony of a child of an alcoholic being "delta-uniform-india", so there is no need to point it out to me. My mother is a recovering alcoholic, which for the first 35 years of my life defined me. It was only after my 14 year marriage fell apart that I found the strength within myself to heal from the scars of my life as a child of an alcoholic. Funny how it takes a tragedy in our lives to make us fix ourselves. I'm much better, now and in a strange way I am glad my marriage fell apart, if it hadn't, I never would have met "C".

Well, obli-di, obli-da, life goes on...

1st Amendment and Other Musings

Hello all,

Earlier I was cutting the grass, which strangely enough I find to be very thereputic. While mowing I started thinking of a conversation I had this weekend... the discussion was about the exact moment when one goes from being the smart ass , punk kid causing trouble to the old crank bitching about the smart ass, punk kid causing trouble. I have come to the conclusion that the exact moment is when you write the first mortgage check for your own house.

On to 1st amendment business. I am a soldier, which I have been both full and part time, for over 17 years now. With each enlistment or reenlistment, you take an oath to defend the constitution of the United States. My favorite amendment is the 1st: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." Why do I mention this now, you ask? Well, I am a big fan of free speech and since I have sworn to defend it to the death, if needed, I feel I should take full advantage and exercise my rights. So if words and phrases like: fuck, shit, asshole, sperm burping come dumpster, ass clown, ass hat, douche bag, cunt, cock, clitoris, butt pirate, bitch, ass spelunker, nipple, blow job, sloppy wet pussy, fuck stain, fucker, mother fucker, father fucker, uncle fucker, dick head, retard, gimp, needle dick bug fucker or tuna taco offend you, please go read someone else's blog. Consider yourself warned.

Greetings!

Well, I was always asked: "if everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you?" I was starting to feel left out of this blogging business, so I have opened shop.

The past few weeks have been incredible for me. After months of being in a deep depression, I am finally coming out of my deep blue funk & I feel more alive than I have in years. Is it the spring weather or is it the absolutely incredible woman I have met?Who knows, and does it really matter? I am happy and that is all that counts. "C", if you're reading this, thank you!!!

I have become almost too good at occupying my mind and keeping myself busy, doctors orders to pull myself out of the depression, of course. In a couple weeks I will be starting on my masters in Engineering Science. It is both scary and exciting at the same time. Not too shabby for someone who flunked out of college on the first attempt, is it?

Well enough rambling here. TTFN, Brian