Category: Uncategorized

So apparently, Bush happily modifies whatever he feels like in the law. Gah. I hate the news.

My little sister is graduating from college this weekend. Congratulations, Carol!

What thoughts would you share with a new college graduate? I’ve been ruminating on this for a week or so, and it’s inspired lots of fun thoughts. What are yours?

My undergraduate mentor, Bob Hughes, passed away on Tuesday.

Bob passed away Tuesday morning after a 6 week battle with
Atypical Pneumonia. Bob had retired from the University May 1997
after 30+ years of loyal service.

A memorial service for Bob will be held on Saturday June 10 at 1:00PM
in the Michigan League Ballroom.

This makes me very sad. Bob was there for me during a critical time in my life, and helped to steer me toward independence, leadership, and generally enjoying life. I hadn’t talked to him in five years or so, but I’ll miss his presence in the world.

I’ve been placed in charge of a redesign of the corporate web site. Any suggestions as to how to go about the process while avoiding “suck” would be greatly appreciated. Yes, up to and including “call this person and hand her money.” That’s totally an option.

The new Tool CD “10,000 days” rocks my freakin’ world.

The album art, however, is more than a little creepy.

The new Rob Zombie, as expected, is also excellent.

Both make fine fence-painting music.

That is all.

I am dirty, tired, and covered in paint chips. I assaulted the fence today, and I’m not sure who won. It certainly has more forces in reserve than I feel that I do right now. however, one 50′ section (solid, 5′ high, cedar) has been scraped, wire brushed, hosed down, treated for mildew, and hosed down again. It is now drying in preparation for an application of “exterior” primer tomorrow morning. As has been noted previously, prepping for painting is vastly more of a pain in the ass than the painting itself.

Fences should never, ever be painted. If this fence had been left plain wood, or had been just stained, it would be in much better shape right now, and the process today would have included hosing and maybe mildew treatment. There would have been no 5 hours of “scrape scrape scrape.” I hereby add “painting your fence” to “putting up non-vinyl wallpaper” on the list of “things that mean you may never, ever, by law, sell your home.

At least the previous owner did his usual cheap, crap-ass job on the paint (single coat, no primer), and it came off pretty easily.

I have another 50′ on the other side, and then the “please God no” 8′ high section in the back. Fortunately, I don’t have to do the opposite side of those, because I’m not on good enough terms with those neighbors to even care.

I walked out of the garage today and noticed that the springtime miracle had occurred: Tiny peeping was coming from the birdhouses I hung up just a few months ago. As I stood quietly, the parent birds came and went, totally wrapped up in feeding the chicks. I spent a little time sitting on the porch, watching the activity. We’re feeding and housing quite the little community of birds these days.

It makes me very happy to know that all one has to do, really, is provide a little birdhouse, and in short order there will be baby birds in it.

The peeping is very small, but insistent.

The travel clinic is starting to aggravate me.

why

Sparring night tonight. Ouch. Standard experience with the “full contact” suit. That was fun. Then I got to go a few rounds with:

(a) Allison: Maybe 14 years old. Weighs maybe 90lbs. Feisty, but not dangerous. Great attitude toward attacking someone twice her size. Watch out for the roundhouse kicks to the head. They come out of nowhere.

(b) Joey: Maybe 19 years old. Weighs maybe 145. Third degree black belt. Wiry, strong and fast. Aggressive. Bruises cover my body and I’m left trembling with exhaustion from blocking. Little bastard punched me square in the bicep. Also kicked me in the calf, resulting in a hell of a charlie horse. Still, I gave as good as I got, I think.

I love this hobby. I’m going to go take an asprin now.