A geek post regarding Apple devices - you might not understand if you don't have an "i-xxx" device. A month or ago, I looked at all the photos on the iPad (copied from my phone) and decided to finally organize them (more than a few thousand taken over the last few years) into "albums", in order to reduce the size of my "camera roll". This also includes any screen shots or pics I've downloaded … [Read more...]
Archives for 2016
Lailah, xmas presents and Mouse Trap Game
December 26, 2016 By
One present of the several I bought for Lailah this Christmas that i didn't wrap (since I obviously had bought too many), was Mouse Trap. I set it up today (for the next time she's over baby sitting me), and while it seemed similar to what I grew up with, it was different. So, I did some of my usual Wikipedia research, and found a pic of the '60s game which then led me to another game I played … [Read more...]
Trump and nuclear weapons
December 23, 2016 By
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, when asked to clarify his recent comments about expanding U.S. nuclear weapons capability, said "Let it be an arms race!", and that the United States would win it (as reported on Friday by MSNBC). According to one source, there were a total of ~70,000 nuclear weapons world wide in the mid to late 1980's, and as of 2010, the total was down to ~20,000. Another … [Read more...]
The Big guy and his blue eyes
December 22, 2016 By
A month ago - for all his life (since fifth grade). The big guy stares into the mirror. All he sees is a face with glasses. He's able to remove the glasses, of course, but then has to stick his face three inches from the mirror in order to see his face clearly, and, of course, since he's so close, he can only see a fraction of his face. The big guy works in an office building where you have to … [Read more...]
Knight and Day – With me, without me
December 22, 2016 By
From the spy comedy movie "Knight and Day": Tom Cruise is talking to Cameron Diaz, about her life expectancy...raising his hand, then lowering it, raising his hand, and lowering it. "...out there on your own, with me, without me, WITH ME, without me." [guess you had to be there - to see his hand gestures.] The scene is about one minute and twenty seconds in. youtube of knight and day … [Read more...]
Bus and Lite Rail courtesy
December 22, 2016 By
Ugh. Sat next to a young man this morning on the bus, while he spoke on his phone in a low voice, thinking he wasn't disturbing everyone. Didn't remember I had my headphones in my briefcase. Was getting very cranking listening to him jabber on. Thirty minutes worth of someone's conversation I didn't care to listen to. Across the aisle was a young woman - doing that thing that should be done … [Read more...]
Christmas Shopping
December 21, 2016 By
Left work a few minutes later than normal this evening, got off the bus around 6:30. Forced myself to drive the two blocks over to Tar'get and do my Christmas shopping. Intended on only shopping for a few toys and clothes for the girl. Not going to mention how many "toys" (dolls, and games, etc.) I ended up getting. Not going to mention the number of different clothing things. Not going to … [Read more...]
The West Wing parable and President-elect Trump
December 19, 2016 By
Tonight, as I try to fall asleep, I'm reminded of an episode of "The West Wing", (from Season One, Ep 14, "Take this sabbath day.") President Bartlett had to decide whether to "stay" an execution that was scheduled to happen in less than 48 hours, and he consults wth a variety of people (his staff, the Pope, a Rabbi, a Quaker, and finally a Priest), and agonizes over the decision. Finally, a few … [Read more...]
What I go through to show my love for the little girl
December 17, 2016 By
Jordan and Katie (Lailah's mom & dad) drive over to the house this morning to pick something up for her. Jordan comes into the house, leaving the two girls (mom & daughter) in their running car, keeping themselves warm. It's just too cold for them to go through the effort of unbuckling her, walking to the front door, just to walk out again with the thing they were picking up. Made perfect … [Read more...]
Chapter One.
September 21, 2016 By
"Red Avalanche, Grey Envoy", a book of fiction by B. Scott Williams. Part one - "The Fjord" Chapter one - Southbound. The tall, overweight man stands with a dozen others, on the street corner, waiting for the next Southbound bus to arrive and take everyone to their suburban homes. He's tired after a day at the office, typing away at his keyboard: Type. Type. Type. Click, drag, drop, … [Read more...]
Kelsey’s mom has passed away
August 20, 2016 By
My best friend's mom passed way on Wednesday. She was 97. Please keep Kelsey and his family in your thoughts. Thank you. … [Read more...]
Neighbor’s passing
August 20, 2016 By
Before I turned on my "find your device" app (see previous post), I was out in my truck searching for my phone. My next door neighbor pulls into her driveway, opens her car window, and calls my name. This is pretty rare for her. Although we lived next door for the past ten years, we usually just wave, and just say "hi". I get out of my truck and walk over to her. She starts telling me about how … [Read more...]
Lost my cell phone, or so I thought
August 20, 2016 By
So. I left the house to do some errands this morning about an hour or so ago. Right when I was turning off my street, I remembered I had forgotten my phone. No worries I said, I don't need it. Did my errands, and came home, put away the groceries, dry cleaning, etc. Then remembered to go check the phone in case I had missed any calls/texts. Of course, couldn't find it where I usually put it upon … [Read more...]
IT departments – different standards, different policy/procedures
August 19, 2016 By
It's interesting: "large" (Fortune 500) companies with IT depts, each of them have their own way of doing things, their own policies and procedures, etc. Unisys was a bit "loosey-goosey" with the app I worked on, allowing the developers to move new code into production (I.e., having privileged / admin access). While, both Wells Fargo and USPS, definitely did NOT and do NOT allow this to be done … [Read more...]
Home from Appleton, WI – Thrivent first week
August 19, 2016 By
Well folks, I'm home. It was a "longish" week, traveling to Appleton, WI for the new job ("on-boarding", "orientation", and meeting most of my colleagues). In a way, it was good that I got to do this - meeting my Appleton colleagues gave both myself and them a chance to put a face to a name, etc. Left Appleton this afternoon around 3:30, getting home at 8:30 pm (after stopping for a 5guys burger … [Read more...]
Alex Baldwin…
August 18, 2016 By
What the heck: flipping channels in the hotel room, coming across "The Match Game", with Alec Baldwin as the host, even including the iconic Gene Rayburn (stylish) microphone (long and skinny). Always loved him in Hunt for Red October. Even more than Harrison Ford. I know he was in "hit" TV series 30rock (never watched it), but, now, a game show host?? … [Read more...]
First day at Thrivent
August 15, 2016 By
Day one over. Mostly on-boarding stuff, getting access to all things Thrivent. Reading some docs. Met two members of my team who are based here (both are almost straight out of college and are really nice fellows). The third member is based in MPLS and is on vac this week (but I've already met him during the interviewing process). The HQ here is a really nice, relaxing, gorgeous (huge) campus, … [Read more...]
Scope of Thrivent’s Headquarters.
August 15, 2016 By
Haha. 30 to 45 mins early. I didn't scope out the "office" location (via goggle satellite maps), until this morning. The HQ is in the middle of a rural area, having a huge open field campus. The building itself is quite large, more spread out than tall. Attached are the satellite views. A bit nervous. … [Read more...]
The drive from MPLS to Appleton, WI
August 14, 2016 By
Eating at the "first" place off the "freeway", a few miles from the hotel. Fortunately it's a pub/grill (not fast food), and going to be eating some yummy "buffalo" tacos soon. Five hour drive, could have done it in 4-1/2, but made a wrong turn somewhere near Stevens Point, making me go South, instead of continuing Eastbound. Unfortunately, when you do this (here in WI), the exits are ten miles … [Read more...]
New job causes me to wonder about Lailah’s toys…
August 12, 2016 By
A lot of you have seen my various videos of Lailah, mostly in the breakfast nook, but sometimes in the living room. During those LR videos, I've tried not to show the area where all of her toys are kept. It's under a 3' by 6' table where on top, I've kept the beginnings of my model railroad "layout". (The model railroad has its own story and that's not the purpose of this essay (other than to … [Read more...]
