I'm Confused

Why do people say they have to get up early tomorrow? I'm up usually by 4:30 am, which you would think would give me plenty of time to do what I need to do before work, and its quite dark outside. So is that early? Is there really anyway to get up earlier than this? I guess I could not go to bed at all, but then I wouldn't be getting up at all.

What's really frustrating is that I don't get everything done I need to prior to work, might be the 40 minutes or so I spend in the shower (probably to ensure I'm awake), but then when I make it to work, no one is there for me to actually get work done with.

I think I have this backwards. Why do I do this? To get a good parking spot. What has become of me.

Should I become an internet star?

The son seems to think I need to record videos of me working on my model railroad. Not sure I want to become an internet sensation. The daughter did it once and did get a mention on a celebrity blog site. Problem is I do what I do cause I like it. I try to follow directions I read about, see on the internet, but it doesn't always turn out the way I plan.

Perhaps that's a good thing, to show people that you can still have fun without be 100% perfect. Not sure the family wants to see my videos though I tend to not care how I look when working.

AHHHH, I'm paperless!

I'm a Technogeek. You can ask my wife and family. I own an iPad and have figured out a way to make myself productive at work (for the government) without printing out a piece of paper. I'm happy about that. But I'm working for the federal government. They invented red tape. They print things several times to make sure they have it right, they print several copies so everyone can have a copy. How can I compete with this.

Some Stereotypes are Right

Update: Today I wore "the Shirt", it was wonderful. Think I can get my wife to make all my shirts Egyptian cotton?


One should never let a man go shopping on his own. I must admit I shop with a purpose. I know what I want I go into the store and I purchase. That enviably leads to mis-purchases.

I was in Men's Warehouse the other day, buying new dress shirts. The good news is Men's Warehouse seems to always be having a buy one get one free sale. I knew I needed a white shirt so I got the basic white cotton, and figured the next shirt would be free so....

There it was. Not that I usually fall for pretty shirts, but something about the color blue and the thread texture, it was a good looking shirt. On further examination, it was constructed of egyptian cotton. Now I know all the females out there are going ooooo...(expensive). That thought never occurred to me. The closest I've come to egyptian cotton is on commercials about sheets. It wasn't till the salesmen rang up my purchase that I realized I just committed to buying a $95 shirt! Well at least I'll look good!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sometimes I amaze even me

When I was younger, I got started with model trains.  I read just about everything there was to know about model trains at the time and had a "nice" setup. 

I actually got to a point where I wired my own switches so I didn't have to rely on the stock controllers for my switches. (Probably what drove me to be an electrical engineer). I remember it was rather complicated at the time.

Fast forward SEVERAL years, I debated using remote controls on my switches, it didn't seem sporting, but I broke down anyway because my throttle won't reach clear across the table and I don't want to manually switch again. But I had forgotten all I remember about those switches I wired and I'm using the stock controllers. But I did come up with a couple of interesting ways to make sure they're wired and setup correctly. 

HHHHMMMMmmmm....Baaacccooonnn

I experienced something unusual the other day. We went to a local Q joint and they were advertising a new appetizer. Chicken Fried Bacon. Now I know there is nothing better than bacon, and who doesn't love anything chicken fried, even better if its chicken. It was SSSOOOOOO GGGooDDD. I could feel my arteries hardening as I ate them.

Bonus: They came with gravy to use as a dipping sauce.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Still a Mystery

I have a degree in electrical engineering. I love it, I was always taking apart my radios when I was younger, much to the chagrin of my parents. Being an electrical engineer allowed me to explain why things don't work using "twisted electrons". It was lame but every time I used that excuse, everyone bought it.

Even now and especially with computers (they run on electrons, remember), I sometimes don't know why things go awry and it frustrates me considerably. I still blame twisted electrons. I'm happy with that.

Christmas in Turkey

I was chatting with one of the folks here at work and they reminded me of a "interesting" experience I had when deployed to Turkey.

Turkey is a non-christian country, but I was there back during what we called the first Iraq war. During Christmas time, nonetheless. The trip I will save for another post, but suffice it to say, it involves a large bus and a cow.

We arrived at the ski resort (hey we need off time once in a while) on Christmas Eve, checked in and went to sleep. We woke the next morning (Christmas) to find a Christmas tree in the lobby, small, but there. We skied most of the day, an activity I had never done before nor have I done since (thoughts for another blog). But by the time we got back to hotel, the tree was gone. So the hotel in a non-christian country with american tourists set up a Christmas tree for one day for us to see, unlike most places in the states that start decorating before Halloween.

But that story wasn't the one I was reminded of while talking to my colleague. The hotel had both a hot tub and a swimming pool. Now most americans know that with a pool AND a hot tub you spend time in one then hop over to the other, especially during the winter. Unfortunately they were at opposite ends of the hotel.
So imagine the looks of the mostly non-christian patrons, when these americans went "running" through the hotel in swim apparel several times. Priceless.

It's Winter Dang it

I love winter.

No you don't understand, I LOVE winter. Here in South Texas, you don't get as much winter as I would like. Luckily this week we are getting what passes for winter here in San Antonio. So today I wanted me some winter i.e. I wanted a fire in my fireplace. To have a fire you need three things; fire, air and wood. I have fire, thanks to multiple lighters bought for this specific purpose. I have air, heck we all have air. The only thing left is wood.

What we have no wood? No problem, several stores sell bundles of wood for folks like me to enjoy a roaring repast in the comfort of their homes. I'll just stop by my favorite store (HEB) and purchase some wood. But first the wife needed food, so off to feed the queen. Since we went to her favorite brunch place, I figured we could stop by Lowes to pick some up.

Enter Lowes, ask where the firewood is and get directed to Duraflame (r) logs. Not what I had in mind, being male I wasn't about to ask someone, but the wife will and apparently Lowes was sold out.

Hey, we saw some wood at HEB on the way in, lets just go there. Back to HEB and see no bundles where they were when we arrived. Check the rest of the outside and find none. Good thing they now have Peanut Butter multi grain Cheerios (r), so it wasn't a total loss.

Check Walmart. Nope. So now I can't have my winter. Well I still have some chopped down trees in the backyard to use, but its mostly kindling size and two logs left from last winter. So I go my winter.

A Football Game?

Apparently, there is some sort of football game on today?  I don't know about that, but there is a showing of some of the best commercials EVAH! I like football don't get me wrong, some of the most athletic moments I've witnessed were during football games.

During high school football we were always asking why are all these kids on the field during a band concert (both my children were in the band). I've actually seen more band parents at games than football parents. So I guess I'm a bit jaded.

I look forward to the Superbowl  ever year, not to see my favorite team win the championship (thanks again Chiefs), nor to see the wardrobe malfunctions (please no Madonna), but to watch the commercials. At least I'm helping to save on water during the mass potty breaks!

Saturday is as Saturday does

Today started like every Saturday. I woke before all the rest of the family, save the dog, then I spent most of the morning watching the DVRd shows from Thursday and Friday. Why didn't I watch them when they were on? Was it because I did not control the TV remote? Get real. I usually begin to doze off at 10:00pm. Guess that's what happens when you get up at 4:00am to get ready for work.

So far from all my days being groundhog days, my weekdays are groundhog weekdays and the same with my weekend days. No matter what I try, I can't seem to break out of groundhog day...now how did Bill do it?

It goes on and on and on......

Its February 2nd. Groundhog day. Someone reminded me that when the military deploys, this is the usual response you get when you ask folks how they are. But life can be like this at times.

Livin' the dream.