I read an interesting article today, and started to compose a reponse to the article I'd read here:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/how-obama-saved-capitalism-and-lost-the-midterms/
There are a couple of other interesting articles I'd read, that had my mind thinking:
http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/28/silicon-valley%E2%80%99s-dark-secret-it%E2%80%99s-all-about-age/
And a script I've been working on about a guy outsourcing HIMSELF (off-shoring himself to India). That script is now back on the front burner because I had a visceral reaction to some of the characters in "Monsoon Wedding" - particularly the Indian who had a great high tech job in Houston, and was planning to go back there right after the wedding. [not mentioning that there's some Computer Science major in Houston who is out of work because of him - he probably does similar work to what I do, gets paid 1/3 the amount, and loves it - but puts me out of that job because he's willing to work for less $$ - but don't get me started...]
Many of you know I'm an 'economic determinist' - I firmly believe that history can be most clearly viewed through the lens of "Those who have the strongest economy win the day, and will write the history books". Think US Civil War / War Between the States (or as my grandmother said, "The Wa'wuh of Nawth'un Aggre'shin"). In the late 20th Century, the US wrote the history books. In the 2000's to date) the Chinese and Hindi's will write the history books unless we as a nation address our four (4x) toughest problems: 1) Jobs, 2) Jobs, 3) jobs, 4) jobs. Health care? Education? Housing / the home-ownership American Dream? The Economy? All important - but all underly problems 1-4. If you have a tenuous job (or have NO job), or are in an industry like mine where you have to change companies every few years to advance, you worry about where your health care is going to come from both a) long-term, and b) in the 'between positions' / interim time periods. Scariest thing I've seen lately? The California jobs fair room where they asked the 2000 people in the room (looking for work) how many of them had PhD's (a few hands), how many had Masters (several dozen more MBA hands), and bachelor degrees (and all 2000 people had hands-in-the-air).
Back to the original story (top link - above) I read the story, and started to 'reply' but the reply was > 500 characters, or words, or something, and wasn't being accepted. Too long - as usual. So, I saved it in my 'notepad', and pasted it here:
"Sorry to say, but in 2000 I voted for "W". I paid for that mistake by losing a substantial fortune in the ensuing economic debacle(s). It made me stop, take a long hard look at the two political parties, and realize that as an 'economic determinist', the Democrats were better on the economy than Republicans. To me, this was a huge shock - i reasoned "since the GOP is so rich-centric, surely they must do everything they can to help the rich get richer by making the capitalist US economy run more efficiently." But my research proved otherwise.
Nixon/Ford/Bush/W=recession. Kennedy/Johnson/CLINTON=prosperity/boom. Even Carter navigated the country out of high interest rates into prosperity (that Reagan took credit for), and lost the 1980 election because of 21% mortgages, and the Iran hostage crisis. Reagan out-spent the USSR, and bankrupted them, but created huge debt for US. "W" sent us into 2 'off-budget' wars, and bailed out his wall street buddies - and Obama gets the bailout-blame. And the guys on wall street think they're making profits now because they're smart(!) (not because the taxpayers saved their asses, and kept their entire industry from going under!?!) Talk about Wall Street hubris!"
I was thinking about the mid-terms - and trying to explain how the Democrats get economics better than Republicans. Now I have to find my copy of that book - the best thing I've ever read on the subject, the chapter "Talking Points at a Republican Barbeque" in "We're Right, They're Wrong" by James Carville. It was written about the 'Contract On America', but holds true today - moreso after the Bush administration left the country's economy a burned out mess. It's as if they looted and pilaged their way through the country's budget surplusses, Social Security trust fund, etc, ran off to play in Dick Cheney's bomb shelter/basement, and burned everything behind them.
Needless to say - this had to be said by someone... who better than someone. Who better to say it than someone who no one reads - the mid-life bachelor who's beyond his 'date-by' date.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Making Your Voice Heard... it helps if you *speak*
This morning I *SPOKE* on the morning bus. It's mentionable, because in the past 3 years, I've uttered approximately 10 words on the morning bus. So what was different today? The guy who got me involved in Sound Wave was on the bus, so we chatted the entire way to the office. When we 'deplaned', a fellow passenger commented, "You speak very well - I see you every day, yet I've never heard your voice."
On the bus home in the evening, I often speak to people - one person even recognized my voice from something (Short Flix, a radio voice-over... who knows) and asked if I'd ever recorded audio books. Although it's something I would *LOVE* to do, and have both the natural talent, and persistence to bring off believable performances (the various 'parts' of a book 'script'), I've never known how to land that FIRST GIG as an audio book voice-over reader.
If you have a book, and want a great reader to bring it to life, drop me a line - I'd love to be involved. And I'll work cheap!
On the bus home in the evening, I often speak to people - one person even recognized my voice from something (Short Flix, a radio voice-over... who knows) and asked if I'd ever recorded audio books.
If you have a book, and want a great reader to bring it to life, drop me a line - I'd love to be involved. And I'll work cheap!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Goodbye Cruel Dating World...
I thought a lot about yesterday's post, and I'd rather NOT dwell on that topic. If women want to like, or dislike men... C'est la vie. It has nothing to do with me personally. I'm not the reason why anyone - even my ex-wife - should dislike men. I don't want to dwell in the dark nether-regions of relationships. Instead, I'd rather get out there and enjoy life.
It was quite a journey over the past year - blogging for the first time, and seriously trying online dating, then giving up on on-line dating, and dating as a mid-life bachelor in general. I'm no longer worried about it - I'm Happy with Myself, and *I* can put up with myself - but to expect to find someone else who could put up with me (besides my sons - because they're polite boys - and my dog - she's the 'alpha bitch' in my house) seems a pointless search. Sometimes even *I* can't put up with me. But I do catch myself, and make serious attempts to stop those behaviors I don't like in myself.
I refined what I would be looking for in a woman / partner / friend... *IF* I were still looking... and realized the likelihood of an finding an unmarried straight woman who's in good physical shape, like's men, and isn't embittered by the challenges of life as a mid-life-singleton in this, the second decade of the 21st Century... is nil. And I accept it. The Death of Singledom is real, and I've gone through all the Kübler-Ross stages of grief - Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.
Some apologies: Chris, I'm sorry I couldn't listen to your advise to grit and bear my broken marriage - I could no longer live as the focus of such irrational anger. I don't blame you for having more sympathy for my ex than for me: I was never open with anyone regarding what I was going through. And you were right: I got little more than my clothes, and big debts in exchange for my so-called 'freedom'. Joy, I'm sorry I could not continue to be your 'wingman'. I'm not sorry that I'm not the guy you're looking for, but I am hopeful you're able to more explicitly describe what that elusive male would look like, and that he exists. Best of luck.
Goodbye childish romantic delusions. Goodbye sex. Goodbye frustration at dealing with people who haven't been able to deal with their anger and frustrations at an imperfect world. Goodbye "M.Average" - not Mr. 'Always Right', and Not Mr. 'Always Wrong', more 'Mr Right just the Right Amount of the time' - no one wants a descent former Eagle Scout, over trusting guy. Women want scoundrels, and villains, and you're neither Mr. Not-Always-Wrong-Nor-Always-Right.
Hello Sunshine, and hello spring. Hello to Music. Hello to writing that's far less indulgent than blogging. Hello to finishing script projects. Hello to a renewed emphasis on film making. Hello to staying toned, fit, and trim by exercising - cycling more on the Christmas 'raffle prize bike', hello(?) to the Century Ballroom for lessons? hmmmm... Hello renewed energy, and sense of humor at the strangeness of this strange experience we call life.
Mostly, hearty greetings, and hello to that elusive woman who I hoped to have met by now. I'm sorry that the timing was all wrong. So to you, my young woman friend of whatever age, I say Hello.... and Goodbye.
It was quite a journey over the past year - blogging for the first time, and seriously trying online dating, then giving up on on-line dating, and dating as a mid-life bachelor in general. I'm no longer worried about it - I'm Happy with Myself, and *I* can put up with myself - but to expect to find someone else who could put up with me (besides my sons - because they're polite boys - and my dog - she's the 'alpha bitch' in my house) seems a pointless search. Sometimes even *I* can't put up with me. But I do catch myself, and make serious attempts to stop those behaviors I don't like in myself.
I refined what I would be looking for in a woman / partner / friend... *IF* I were still looking... and realized the likelihood of an finding an unmarried straight woman who's in good physical shape, like's men, and isn't embittered by the challenges of life as a mid-life-singleton in this, the second decade of the 21st Century... is nil. And I accept it. The Death of Singledom is real, and I've gone through all the Kübler-Ross stages of grief - Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.
Some apologies: Chris, I'm sorry I couldn't listen to your advise to grit and bear my broken marriage - I could no longer live as the focus of such irrational anger. I don't blame you for having more sympathy for my ex than for me: I was never open with anyone regarding what I was going through. And you were right: I got little more than my clothes, and big debts in exchange for my so-called 'freedom'. Joy, I'm sorry I could not continue to be your 'wingman'. I'm not sorry that I'm not the guy you're looking for, but I am hopeful you're able to more explicitly describe what that elusive male would look like, and that he exists. Best of luck.
Goodbye childish romantic delusions. Goodbye sex. Goodbye frustration at dealing with people who haven't been able to deal with their anger and frustrations at an imperfect world. Goodbye "M.Average" - not Mr. 'Always Right', and Not Mr. 'Always Wrong', more 'Mr Right just the Right Amount of the time' - no one wants a descent former Eagle Scout, over trusting guy. Women want scoundrels, and villains, and you're neither Mr. Not-Always-Wrong-Nor-Always-Right.
Hello Sunshine, and hello spring. Hello to Music. Hello to writing that's far less indulgent than blogging. Hello to finishing script projects. Hello to a renewed emphasis on film making. Hello to staying toned, fit, and trim by exercising - cycling more on the Christmas 'raffle prize bike', hello(?) to the Century Ballroom for lessons? hmmmm... Hello renewed energy, and sense of humor at the strangeness of this strange experience we call life.
Mostly, hearty greetings, and hello to that elusive woman who I hoped to have met by now. I'm sorry that the timing was all wrong. So to you, my young woman friend of whatever age, I say Hello.... and Goodbye.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Why do SO MANY women ... Hate Men?
Misandry - a word used so infrequently, that spell checkers highlight it as a misspelling, yet "misogyny" - the opposite of misandry - shows up just fine. Yet my personal experience over the past several months show there has been a shift in the relationships of men and women... and I assert there is far more misandry in the world than misogyny.
I can understand that many women have been in abusive relationships with men - physically or mentally abusive. I've experienced the rejection many women at middle-age receive from men - is this the result of misplaced self loathing caused by unrealistic expectations of physical fitness, and body types based on 'popular culture' and the media?
Are men to blame for this? (I can hear women saying, "Damned right!") But blaming men as a race for the strange biases portrayed in the media is like saying "all dogs are bad because a Pitt bull in South Seattle killed an elderly woman in 2009". Not everyone can look like that young girl on the cover of 'Shape' magazine - and not all men WANT someone who looks like that young girl on the cover of 'Shape' - the 'girl', and the desire for that girl (in my mind) both shout of immaturity.
The Catholic Church (big "C" there, as in 'Roman Catholic') and more recent organizations like The Mars Hill "Church" hold to a theological view of "Complementarianism" - holding that "God has created men and women equal in their essential dignity and human personhood, but different and complementary in function with male headship in the home and in the Church." Perhaps it's this viewpoint that's the root cause of all the problems between the sexes... with women always in a secondary role as supporters to the patriarchal - male - leaders. I'm no expert in this area, but I strongly suspect this is the case. And I (for one) don't want to be in a relationship with someone who will always play second banana to me. Oh, I will probably fall back into the 'making the universe over with her at the center' trap I tend to fall into, but old habits die hard, I'm sorry to say...
The Other catholic (i.e. worldwide) Church in America (The Episcopal Church) holds the theological view of "Egalitarianism". Put briefly, egalitarianism holds that "all people are equal before God and in Christ. All have equal responsibility to use their gifts and obey their calling to the glory of God. God freely calls believers to roles and ministries without regard to class, gender, or race." Women are not second banana here - women take on as much of, and as strong a role as they want to take on. This is what I Believe.
Yet there is a growing men's movement that compares a marriage to riding in a car - pointing out there's only one steering wheel - or to a television set, 'there is only one remote control'. In my own experience, I've shared the driving responsibilities, and don't clutch the remote like a caveman, but change the channel, and leave 'the clicker' on the coffee table. It's true... I have been 'the primary bread winner', but I'm not against having an income that's less than a partners - that wouldn't somehow emasculate me to be in a relationship where the woman brought in a bigger salary than me. More disposable income! (woot!) Au contraire - that would be a blessing.
So, yes... I at least admit the inkling of a possibility that from my limited perspective as a mid-life bachelor that without a Magic 8-Ball, appearances point to more misandry than misogyny in the world. But I *will* go on record as saying it's not my fault. I do not hate women. If anything, I love women too much - and there's the irony of being a woman loving middle-aged bachelor in a world steeped in misandry.
Want examples? Example 1: in the movie "Wedding Crashers", there's a scene where Vince Vaughn wakes up to find himself duct-taped to a bed, with his nymphomaniac girlfriend straddling him. It was an uncomfortable scene, yet played as *COMEDY*... rape... as comedy. HORRIBLE!! Yet, if the roles had been reversed, the movie going public would have screamed about, RAILED AGAINST, protested, disclaimed, repudiated and in general REJECTED these filmed actions. But with a woman as rapist, that is somehow seen as okay? And even 'funny'?!?
Example 2: the movie "Enchanted" - there, the male characters are belittled, and emasculated as the female characters literally grab the sword, and do battle with the evil dragon (this time a woman on woman fight rather than the more traditional fairytale male hero vs. the viscous male dragon who has the mixed up sexual identity, and desires human females... is it because all the female dragons have been slain?)
We live in a strange age where men and women seemingly can't even get along - much less meet for dating, mating, or even spending some time together for mutual enjoyment. But admittedly, I'm not looking in the right places... after all, you never find what you're looking for until you look in the last place you would expect [because once you've FOUND something, you stop looking.]
We would ALL do well to "put down The Hate", and "pick up The Love".
Misandry: (mĭ-sān'drē) n. Hatred of men. [1946, from miso- "hatred" + andros "of man, male human being" (see anthropo-). Related: Misandrist.]
I can understand that many women have been in abusive relationships with men - physically or mentally abusive. I've experienced the rejection many women at middle-age receive from men - is this the result of misplaced self loathing caused by unrealistic expectations of physical fitness, and body types based on 'popular culture' and the media?
Are men to blame for this? (I can hear women saying, "Damned right!") But blaming men as a race for the strange biases portrayed in the media is like saying "all dogs are bad because a Pitt bull in South Seattle killed an elderly woman in 2009". Not everyone can look like that young girl on the cover of 'Shape' magazine - and not all men WANT someone who looks like that young girl on the cover of 'Shape' - the 'girl', and the desire for that girl (in my mind) both shout of immaturity.
The Catholic Church (big "C" there, as in 'Roman Catholic') and more recent organizations like The Mars Hill "Church" hold to a theological view of "Complementarianism" - holding that "God has created men and women equal in their essential dignity and human personhood, but different and complementary in function with male headship in the home and in the Church." Perhaps it's this viewpoint that's the root cause of all the problems between the sexes... with women always in a secondary role as supporters to the patriarchal - male - leaders. I'm no expert in this area, but I strongly suspect this is the case. And I (for one) don't want to be in a relationship with someone who will always play second banana to me. Oh, I will probably fall back into the 'making the universe over with her at the center' trap I tend to fall into, but old habits die hard, I'm sorry to say...
The Other catholic (i.e. worldwide) Church in America (The Episcopal Church) holds the theological view of "Egalitarianism". Put briefly, egalitarianism holds that "all people are equal before God and in Christ. All have equal responsibility to use their gifts and obey their calling to the glory of God. God freely calls believers to roles and ministries without regard to class, gender, or race." Women are not second banana here - women take on as much of, and as strong a role as they want to take on. This is what I Believe.
Yet there is a growing men's movement that compares a marriage to riding in a car - pointing out there's only one steering wheel - or to a television set, 'there is only one remote control'. In my own experience, I've shared the driving responsibilities, and don't clutch the remote like a caveman, but change the channel, and leave 'the clicker' on the coffee table. It's true... I have been 'the primary bread winner', but I'm not against having an income that's less than a partners - that wouldn't somehow emasculate me to be in a relationship where the woman brought in a bigger salary than me. More disposable income! (woot!) Au contraire - that would be a blessing.
So, yes... I at least admit the inkling of a possibility that from my limited perspective as a mid-life bachelor that without a Magic 8-Ball, appearances point to more misandry than misogyny in the world. But I *will* go on record as saying it's not my fault. I do not hate women. If anything, I love women too much - and there's the irony of being a woman loving middle-aged bachelor in a world steeped in misandry.
Want examples? Example 1: in the movie "Wedding Crashers", there's a scene where Vince Vaughn wakes up to find himself duct-taped to a bed, with his nymphomaniac girlfriend straddling him. It was an uncomfortable scene, yet played as *COMEDY*... rape... as comedy. HORRIBLE!! Yet, if the roles had been reversed, the movie going public would have screamed about, RAILED AGAINST, protested, disclaimed, repudiated and in general REJECTED these filmed actions. But with a woman as rapist, that is somehow seen as okay? And even 'funny'?!?
Example 2: the movie "Enchanted" - there, the male characters are belittled, and emasculated as the female characters literally grab the sword, and do battle with the evil dragon (this time a woman on woman fight rather than the more traditional fairytale male hero vs. the viscous male dragon who has the mixed up sexual identity, and desires human females... is it because all the female dragons have been slain?)
We live in a strange age where men and women seemingly can't even get along - much less meet for dating, mating, or even spending some time together for mutual enjoyment. But admittedly, I'm not looking in the right places... after all, you never find what you're looking for until you look in the last place you would expect [because once you've FOUND something, you stop looking.]
We would ALL do well to "put down The Hate", and "pick up The Love".
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Fat Tuesday and.... Pancakes???
I still don't get it. It's an Episcopal tradition - I realize that, but I still don't get it. Where I grew up, we had Mardi Gras - floats with masked revelers throwing moon pies, beads, doubloons, and candy, followed by marching bands, and maskers on horseback. My hometown had Mardi Gras in 1704 - before New Orleans was even founded - and late winter / early spring was a great time for all.
And in the south, you were either Baptist, or Catholic - there were no other choices... so I was something else, naturally. But one thing we did NOT do was pancakes. Pancakes are good for about 10 minutes after cooking. After that, they're a greasy chewy mess, and the batter doesn't store well. So when the 'pancake supper' is finished, what's left to donate to the local shelter/soup-kitchen?
That's why in the home of the Mardi Gras - the Mother Of The Mystics - we always had Fat Tuesday Jambalaya. A hearty seafood gumbo with rice and andouille sausage (spicy) and beans - the leftovers from this would warm the heart of even the most cynical street denizen. So while we have 'pancakes' here in the NW, I always make a point of distributing beads, and shaking my head silently as the night progresses.
The next day? Ash Wednesday. Remember: YOU are "Butt Dust".
(Happy Belated Mardi Gras!)
And in the south, you were either Baptist, or Catholic - there were no other choices... so I was something else, naturally. But one thing we did NOT do was pancakes. Pancakes are good for about 10 minutes after cooking. After that, they're a greasy chewy mess, and the batter doesn't store well. So when the 'pancake supper' is finished, what's left to donate to the local shelter/soup-kitchen?
That's why in the home of the Mardi Gras - the Mother Of The Mystics - we always had Fat Tuesday Jambalaya. A hearty seafood gumbo with rice and andouille sausage (spicy) and beans - the leftovers from this would warm the heart of even the most cynical street denizen. So while we have 'pancakes' here in the NW, I always make a point of distributing beads, and shaking my head silently as the night progresses.
The next day? Ash Wednesday. Remember: YOU are "Butt Dust".
(Happy Belated Mardi Gras!)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
SoundWave
Several weeks ago, I applied for an audition spot for the Sounders FC's pep-band "SoundWave". My audition was set for 10am today - but I had a previous commitment on Hood Canal at a retreat for church leaders. Saturday, at the conference, I asked my friend Jack to help me transpose "Mona Lisa" (Nat King Cole) from treble to bass clef as the 'solo' portion of my tryout, but made a point of not actually playing the resulting sheet of music until the morning of the tryout. I left the conference early (last night) so I'd be in town fresh, and ready to play.
This morning, I drove into my office at 9am, went up to a vacant conference room, and played through the resulting sheet for the first time. Fortunately I found a couple of glaring mistakes in my transposing, and fixed them. By 9:45 I was ready. By 10:30, I had been interviewed, did some very poor music sight reading, played the solo, and was out the door.
Tonight I got the call... my first rehearsal as a *MEMBER* of SoundWave is Saturday, 3pm!!!! Now I'm dreaming we'll play "Legend Of The One Eyed Sailor", or "Mardi Gras Mambo", and some other rockin Latin stuff. (WOOT!!!)
This morning, I drove into my office at 9am, went up to a vacant conference room, and played through the resulting sheet for the first time. Fortunately I found a couple of glaring mistakes in my transposing, and fixed them. By 9:45 I was ready. By 10:30, I had been interviewed, did some very poor music sight reading, played the solo, and was out the door.
Tonight I got the call... my first rehearsal as a *MEMBER* of SoundWave is Saturday, 3pm!!!! Now I'm dreaming we'll play "Legend Of The One Eyed Sailor", or "Mardi Gras Mambo", and some other rockin Latin stuff. (WOOT!!!)
Friday, February 12, 2010
On Following Myself...
I noticed I'm the only one reading this... (see 'Followers' link to the RIGHT)
And people wonder why I've given up on dating.
And people wonder why I've given up on dating.
Facebook and the Cult of glowing rectangularism
My son's got me to sign up for Facebook, and I resisted as long as I could. Now it's a constant source of new email messages "Fred did this", or "Sue did that", or "Howard discovered oil on his make believe farm, and wants you to feed his tomogochi chickens"... Eck! (pronounced like 'heck' without the 'h')
Oh, it's been nice to connect with people I haven't had any 'face time' with for several years... don't get me wrong. But it's not exactly the same as HAVING 'face time' with ANYONE. It's really just a sinister plot to keep more people staring at the glowing rectangles, or pocket sized glowing rectangular objects that can entertain, has a compass built into the stock, has this thing that tells time, and pinpoints your location on the planet to within 1.25inches... oh, and you can also make phone calls with it. ;?> The REAL Dick Tracy wrist radio... although you keep it in a pocket and it can cause repetitive thumb strain.
I've been under the weather - a winter cold - for the past few days, and between long naps watched a few movies on my list. The least impressive of these were "The Hurt Locker" (up for the Oscar this year), and "Black Orpheas". While I liked the calypso music in the latter, seeing yet another movie telling the epic story of Orpheus and Eurydice (all on the same 1001 movie list I should add) is a bit taxing.
I've been watching all the Powell and Pressburger films, and one scene in "Age of Consent" really made me ache for the warm tropical summers of my youth. Afternoon and evening thundershowers were the weather pattern in the late 1970's (but no longer) - the sky would darken around 3pm, POUR BUCKETS of warm rain for 20 minutes, then the sun would come out, and everything would be dry again within about an hour. Oh, the humidity was high... but it was a humid heat, after all.
So, why don't we do away with Facebook, and set a date to have lunch... in San Diego, or on the beach in Waikiki? THAT would be Face Time worth spending!
Oh, it's been nice to connect with people I haven't had any 'face time' with for several years... don't get me wrong. But it's not exactly the same as HAVING 'face time' with ANYONE. It's really just a sinister plot to keep more people staring at the glowing rectangles, or pocket sized glowing rectangular objects that can entertain, has a compass built into the stock, has this thing that tells time, and pinpoints your location on the planet to within 1.25inches... oh, and you can also make phone calls with it. ;?> The REAL Dick Tracy wrist radio... although you keep it in a pocket and it can cause repetitive thumb strain.
I've been under the weather - a winter cold - for the past few days, and between long naps watched a few movies on my list. The least impressive of these were "The Hurt Locker" (up for the Oscar this year), and "Black Orpheas". While I liked the calypso music in the latter, seeing yet another movie telling the epic story of Orpheus and Eurydice (all on the same 1001 movie list I should add) is a bit taxing.
I've been watching all the Powell and Pressburger films, and one scene in "Age of Consent" really made me ache for the warm tropical summers of my youth. Afternoon and evening thundershowers were the weather pattern in the late 1970's (but no longer) - the sky would darken around 3pm, POUR BUCKETS of warm rain for 20 minutes, then the sun would come out, and everything would be dry again within about an hour. Oh, the humidity was high... but it was a humid heat, after all.
So, why don't we do away with Facebook, and set a date to have lunch... in San Diego, or on the beach in Waikiki? THAT would be Face Time worth spending!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Project Bike - Complete
After adjustments, we took her out for a ride through the neighborhood, and to the local Target store where I picked up a Phineas and Ferb t-shirt for the proud bike restorer.
My son on his bike - nicknamed "Shreader" - and I on my Schwinn Jaguar 7-speed cruiser. We were quite the pair. But I really need to find my helmet - to set a good example, and all. Have a great week! And remember: whatever it is, YOU *CAN* DO IT. Make YOUR film. Repaint your bike. Write the story you want to read. And keep those pages coming... just a few pages a day is all it takes.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Project Bike - During
Here are a couple of shots 'during'. 1) "The Stripper" at work. 2) A Happy Boy. 3) In the Paint Shop.
Project Bike - Before
Here's how the "Traveller" folding 5-speed bicycle looked before we started sanding, and re-painting...
Friday, January 29, 2010
Project Bike
For years, I've been looking for a replacement for my favorite bike as a kid - it turns out it was a bicycle built for Sears by Huffy, and only manufactured between 1969 and 1971 - the "Sears Screamer 1". It had 'butterfly handlebars' that curved up, then down, then over - just like in the picture. Today, these bikes are referred to as 'muscle bikes', and are in high demand. I showed my sons this bike, and saw the longing in the eyes of my 10 year old.
The next day (2 weeks ago now), we went to 'BikeWerks' - a local used bike shop - to see if they had an old Spider bike, or something even close to the Screamer. After looking at a couple of bikes, my son chose a 'folding bike' with 5 speeds that had a horrible green paint job. He said "We could paint it", and so $40 later, the project began.
The next day, I went to the downtown Home Depot, walked into the paint department, and stated: "I Need A Stripper".
Once the laughter subsided, I added that it should be environmentally friendly, and not peel the skin off my lap when I pour it on thick. ;?> CitriStripper did great work on the old paint, and Krylon spray primer was quick work as well. My son wants the bike to be painted ORANGE, but the orange at Home Depot seemed too bright to him, so we went with a color at Lowes. But once it was on-the-bike, the Valspar orange paint crinkled, and cracked, so today I'm going back to the Depot to find a can of Rustoleum Orange Gloss.
In the meantime, we replaced the old cracked 20" street tires with "urban camo" tires, and are thrilled with the result. Before putting on the tires, we used steel wool to remove spoke rust, and shine up the rims. A coat of metallic 'chrome' paint, and the wheels now look ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!! I'm planning to spend some time on the bike this weekend, and will post 'before' and 'after' shots to show the work.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Haiti IS US
You may not realize I'm an active Episcopalian - yes... the denomination that's often in the news for having a "big tent". [all are welcome regardless of race, sex, orientation, or sociology-economic background (rich or poor, pink or purple]
This weekend I learned that the Diocese of Haiti is part of the Episcopal Church! There are 80,000 members in Haiti, and only around 20,000 in WA. Last night at our monthly meeting, we identified some outreach funds that have been languishing in a 'cash fund' (making .013% interest) and it took us about three minutes to redirect $4000 of that money to the Episcopal relief fund for Haiti. It was a great feeling, and provided another connection with our brothers and sisters in that devastated island nation.
"The Diocese of Haiti is the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church, so there are strong bonds between Episcopalians in this country and our sisters and brothers in Haiti. For updates on the ministry of the Episcopal Church in Haiti, visit this link: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/haiti.php. All of us are encouraged to support with our prayers and financial resources the work of Episcopal Relief and Development. To learn more and to donate online: http://www.er-d.org/"
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
This weekend I learned that the Diocese of Haiti is part of the Episcopal Church! There are 80,000 members in Haiti, and only around 20,000 in WA. Last night at our monthly meeting, we identified some outreach funds that have been languishing in a 'cash fund' (making .013% interest) and it took us about three minutes to redirect $4000 of that money to the Episcopal relief fund for Haiti. It was a great feeling, and provided another connection with our brothers and sisters in that devastated island nation.
"The Diocese of Haiti is the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church, so there are strong bonds between Episcopalians in this country and our sisters and brothers in Haiti. For updates on the ministry of the Episcopal Church in Haiti, visit this link: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/haiti.php. All of us are encouraged to support with our prayers and financial resources the work of Episcopal Relief and Development. To learn more and to donate online: http://www.er-d.org/"
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Failure can be very liberating
It’s not something I do often – failure, that is – but when I do… it can be pretty spectacular!!
Now if I could turn the corner on this mid-life dating thing, and actually FAIL to fail!!
Hey, it’s possible… ;?> Yes, I’ve given up on the ‘on-line dating’ oxymoron – the "Now I’ll interview you to see whether I’d like to spend a couple of hours of face-time together doing something "paradigm that passes for modern dating.
While you’re waiting for answers to those questions, however, I’ll be at club Contour, or checking out a film I’ve been dying to see… “Up In The Air”, anyone?!?!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Ass Man...
Ass Man: a distinguished heterosexual gentleman who enjoys the sight, proximity, and touch of a woman's derriere. Not to be confused with the term used for Wal-Mart assistant managers... OR the license plate Kramer received on the series Seinfeld (meant for a proctologist).
A distinction is made between an Ass Man, and a tits and ass man. An Ass Man is a man whose favorite part of the female anatomy, to look at or play with, is the buttocks, in distinction to a tit-man or a tit(s) and ass man.
Similar in temperament to a Legs Man: A male whose primary sexual interest centers on womens' legs, sometimes in distinction to one who is interested in breasts or asses. "He's a leg man; he prefers legs to tits."
From personal observation, tits men seem extremely shallow, and manipulative - often pressuring their girlfriends to receive surgical augmentation. Leg and Ass men on the other hand are more interested in their partner's staying in good shape - often participating in the same athletic or exercise interests to maintain both good health, healthy body shape, and weight.
THAT's why I run, cycle, and kayak - not because I ENJOY avoiding traffic in the rain, but because I like the results... the physical health, and weight moderation. Green Lake, anyone?
A distinction is made between an Ass Man, and a tits and ass man. An Ass Man is a man whose favorite part of the female anatomy, to look at or play with, is the buttocks, in distinction to a tit-man or a tit(s) and ass man.
Similar in temperament to a Legs Man: A male whose primary sexual interest centers on womens' legs, sometimes in distinction to one who is interested in breasts or asses. "He's a leg man; he prefers legs to tits."
From personal observation, tits men seem extremely shallow, and manipulative - often pressuring their girlfriends to receive surgical augmentation. Leg and Ass men on the other hand are more interested in their partner's staying in good shape - often participating in the same athletic or exercise interests to maintain both good health, healthy body shape, and weight.
THAT's why I run, cycle, and kayak - not because I ENJOY avoiding traffic in the rain, but because I like the results... the physical health, and weight moderation. Green Lake, anyone?
Stacy's Ass...
I went to a going-away-party for a young actress/model friend who's moving to L.A. to seriously pursue her acting career in the entertainment industry. She started by having her current employer (Red Robin restaurants) transfer her to a store in L.A. Now she's headed down there.
My observations about her: LOADS of talent, very easy on the eye, truly friendly, sincere, and easy to get along with. Downsides: she's very religious to the point of being potentially off-putting. While this is a positive attribute when it comes to her work ethic, and her 'cleanliness' relative to drugs & alcohol, it makes her a potential victim of those who desire to control and manipulate.
I can totally predict her 'relationship future' in L.A.: meets that smarmy, yet dishonest "some guy" who gives lip service to religion to 'get inside her pants', and quickly becomes a drain on her life - financial, emotional, etc. I see these qualities in my friend's 'roaming-hands-step-father-with-a-bull-shit-opinion-on-everything', [who she's moving to L.A. to get away from - whether or not she'll admit it]. My 1-hour exposure to this step-parent convinced me (have I seen this pattern before? hmmmm...) family history is doomed to repeat itself.
But, of course, having a Mid-Life Bachelor even befriend (much less give advice to) a girl half-his age makes him an instant sexual suspect. In this case, while she indeed has the greatest derriere I've seen in a VERY long time... she's not a romantic interest. I'm probably more religious than she is, but I have other places for my life energy. Something we have in common is wanting to work on our entertainment industry careers. She's got the upper hand on me in this regard - she's taking steps to 'do something about it', while I've kept the tech-career going with the LATENT intent of 'funding my PASSION for filmmaking/acting/sound-work'. She's DOING SOMETHING, while I'm still WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN.
But not for long... ;?>
(more on 'Ass Men' in a future post...)
My observations about her: LOADS of talent, very easy on the eye, truly friendly, sincere, and easy to get along with. Downsides: she's very religious to the point of being potentially off-putting. While this is a positive attribute when it comes to her work ethic, and her 'cleanliness' relative to drugs & alcohol, it makes her a potential victim of those who desire to control and manipulate.
I can totally predict her 'relationship future' in L.A.: meets that smarmy, yet dishonest "some guy" who gives lip service to religion to 'get inside her pants', and quickly becomes a drain on her life - financial, emotional, etc. I see these qualities in my friend's 'roaming-hands-step-father-with-a-bull-shit-opinion-on-everything', [who she's moving to L.A. to get away from - whether or not she'll admit it]. My 1-hour exposure to this step-parent convinced me (have I seen this pattern before? hmmmm...) family history is doomed to repeat itself.
But, of course, having a Mid-Life Bachelor even befriend (much less give advice to) a girl half-his age makes him an instant sexual suspect. In this case, while she indeed has the greatest derriere I've seen in a VERY long time... she's not a romantic interest. I'm probably more religious than she is, but I have other places for my life energy. Something we have in common is wanting to work on our entertainment industry careers. She's got the upper hand on me in this regard - she's taking steps to 'do something about it', while I've kept the tech-career going with the LATENT intent of 'funding my PASSION for filmmaking/acting/sound-work'. She's DOING SOMETHING, while I'm still WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN.
But not for long... ;?>
(more on 'Ass Men' in a future post...)
Writing Projects...
I've been taking time every day to write, or at a minimum outline, on a couple of projects. So far so good, but I've reached a point on one of them where I need to get buy-in from a collaborator, or else shelve the project for good. It's time for a 'pitch session' with that collaborator - the person for whom I'm writing the... 'Holiday Fable'.
Also, after much debate, I think it's time to also pitch the 'zombie nerds' project to my friend at Disney as an episode of his tween animated series. Rumors that his main character is based on *ME* are completely untrue (as far as I know). I may be at times optimistic, and have a 'can do attitude' (which I use to great success at work), but my COMPLETION ratio is not nearly as high as the characters on the animated series. Still... it has a VERY infectious Theme Song.
Speaking of Theme Songs, I removed the music links on the right side of the page - they had stopped being something you could play as you read (i.e. "Every Day I Write The Book"), and become a complete AD for 'buy these songs now'... bummer.
Also, after much debate, I think it's time to also pitch the 'zombie nerds' project to my friend at Disney as an episode of his tween animated series. Rumors that his main character is based on *ME* are completely untrue (as far as I know). I may be at times optimistic, and have a 'can do attitude' (which I use to great success at work), but my COMPLETION ratio is not nearly as high as the characters on the animated series. Still... it has a VERY infectious Theme Song.
Speaking of Theme Songs, I removed the music links on the right side of the page - they had stopped being something you could play as you read (i.e. "Every Day I Write The Book"), and become a complete AD for 'buy these songs now'... bummer.
Deleted the oxy-moron accounts...
Well, I finally broke down, and deleted both my "On-line Dating" accounts - PlentyOfFish and OkCupid. A dear friend summed up my feelings on the subject very well, and I'll paraphrase it here (from the 'why are you leaving' message I left on OkCupid...
"Conscientious Mid-life dating is not well served by on-line dating websites, or by the 'dates' they lead to.
The concept of 'modern dating' promoted here (and elsewhere): "Let's spend a few hours together with the express purpose of interviewing each other for possible romantic fulfillment and mating". OMG! Unless it stops at "let's spend a few hours together," it's doomed from the beginning by pressure and judgment. Instead, people need to spend time together doing things they enjoy. Staring at glowing rectangles BY ONE'S SELF does not involve a) other people, or b) something I enjoy doing (thanks to doing it all day 'at the office')."
"Conscientious Mid-life dating is not well served by on-line dating websites, or by the 'dates' they lead to.
The concept of 'modern dating' promoted here (and elsewhere): "Let's spend a few hours together with the express purpose of interviewing each other for possible romantic fulfillment and mating". OMG! Unless it stops at "let's spend a few hours together," it's doomed from the beginning by pressure and judgment. Instead, people need to spend time together doing things they enjoy. Staring at glowing rectangles BY ONE'S SELF does not involve a) other people, or b) something I enjoy doing (thanks to doing it all day 'at the office')."
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