Was at MOA today with BFF Rick. Last time we were there I bought two pounds of assorted Lindor chocolate truffles. Told him today it was his responsibility to prevent me from doing that ever again. Not sure if he was successful or if he failed: this time I only got myself a one pound assortment (citrus, orange, raspberry, and white chocolate). Not sure if I should be thanking him or not. The goal … [Read more...]
Lailah News – going to the Apple Orchard
October 3, 2015 By
So. Lots and lots of my FB friends (all three of you) have been recently asking me: "Hey, what's up with Lailah these days?", "What's with the no recent stories about Lailah?", and my personal favorite, "Got any new excruciatingly long kitchen table painting videos of our favorite little girl?", as well as, "Man, we really miss hearing about Lailah" comments, etc. Therefore, I wanted to share … [Read more...]
Completely Mirrorless Camera Photog Now
October 3, 2015 By
FYI, fellow FB photographer friends: Over the summer and as of this past week, I've slowly gotten rid (via trade-in or selling) all of my DSLR camera equipment, and am now a bona fide "Mirrorless Camera ONLY" photographer (now having had my Mirrorless for the past 16 months). While I do not (yet) have the same quantity/style of lenses, I anticipate, over the next several years, the lens stable … [Read more...]
Gun Control Article and Statistics
October 3, 2015 By
Gun Control Article (opens in a new window) Great article, with statistic sources cited. Here is one thing that I wanted to copy and share: "...there isn't another country in the world with as many guns as the U.S. The U.S. comprises 5 percent of the world's population, but owns between 35 and 50 percent of the world's civilian firearms. The rate of about 97 guns per 100 people is tops in … [Read more...]
Jeb Bush
October 3, 2015 By
Wasn't there a West Wing episode where James Brolin (guest staring as the other party's presidential candidate) runs into President Bartlett in the basement of a NYC concert hall, and after learning an off duty secret service agent was just killed, says to President Bartlett in response, "gee, stuff happens." ==================================== [actually, his line was "Crime, boy, I don't … [Read more...]
Very short Lailah update
October 2, 2015 By
After playing all day starting at 8am, she has now fallen asleep around 3pm...tired little girl. … [Read more...]
New TV: “Transparent”
October 2, 2015 By
Well, I finished season one of (Amazon's tv series) "Transparent". I thought the first few episodes were visually choppy - camera was going off in all directions - maybe that was only in the first episode...but it was very distracting at first. The story seems a bit more complicated than needed - with them going into more about how messed up each of the three children's lives are (as adults) than … [Read more...]
Photography and Lailah – the Dilemma
September 20, 2015 By
You know, for the most part, I have a pretty good life... BUT it just SUCKS BIG TIME when I attend a little girl's soccer practice / game and I have this pretty nice camera, and a pretty good "long/zoom" lens, allowing me to take some really awesome pictures, and upon coming home, and downloading them to the PC, you find you've taken 300+ pictures of her in a bit less than an hour, and it is so … [Read more...]
Nightmares and Haircuts
September 19, 2015 By
Stories not to read before going to bed: hair stylist accidentally cuts a good portion of a little girl's hair off ("butchers it"), the day before "family photo session". Now, I'm afraid of going to sleep, thinking my hair stylist will be coming to get me in the middle of the night - I know I'm in need of a hair cut, but I don't want to wake up in the morning, bald! Just saying. Be careful out … [Read more...]
Signing your life away – Your signature
September 18, 2015 By
So. I'm at Cub Foods (the local grocery store), and the person (gender being withheld to protect the innocent) ahead of me is paying their bill via credit/debit card, and it's time for them to sign their life away on the pin pad device/screen thingamabob. I see them sign their full name, with beginning capital letters, and their middle initial, and then crossing their T's and dotting every last … [Read more...]
Loving the rain
September 17, 2015 By
Sitting here reading my textbooks, was listening to a video lecture, it rained on and off during the night, woke up to rain, and it's still raining, alternating between sprinkling and out and out really hard showers (with lots of wind to boot). There are times when I can open my windows such that the rain doesn't come in - love listening to the sounds (of the rain). Sitting in my kitchen, with … [Read more...]
Miscellaneous thoughts
September 12, 2015 By
Such a nice day out there today, my favorite season is fall - the temp is "just right". Too bad it only lasts 4-6 weeks here in MN. (Lol) I've got a few (good) stories to write about but I'm not doing it today. But, I'll preview them for you: First one is about my (accidentally) providing some excitement and joy to a person in my life by introducing them to something a few months ago. Maybe more … [Read more...]
Excitement over school!
September 8, 2015 By
Excited. Blah, blah, blah. Last course ("I.T. Infrastructure") at Saint Thomas starts this Friday evening - never had a Friday evening course before (it's probably going to ruin my very exciting social life - ha ha). 14 weeks/class sessions, final exam, no mid term exam, not sure if there is a team project yet, but apparently weekly individual and team assignments. Two text books and then a PDF … [Read more...]
FB article: “Christians” & their lack of compassion for the LGBT community
September 7, 2015 By
Christians and non-compassion (opens in a new window) This is a very well written essay - please read and share. I am asking my FB friends/family who are Christians to please take time to read this. Thank you. … [Read more...]
Re-watching West Wing!
September 7, 2015 By
I've recently been watching reruns of the last few episodes of season 6 and the beginning of the final season (7) of West Wing and really wish we had presidential candidates such as the ones played by Jimmy Smits, Alan Alda, and/or Leo McGarry (John Spencer), Jed Barlett (Martin Sheen), instead of the dozen or more republican numbnuts that have thrown their hat in the ring so far. I really loved … [Read more...]
Job Hunting – Jostens
August 31, 2015 By
Last week on Tuesday, I posted something about two friends, true friendship, procrastination and "taking action". The action I took last week, produced no (immediate) results. Just learned a few hours ago that I was mistakenly given a wrong email addr. and the 3rd party is still looking forward to receiving from me. So, having just now resent my email, I am thinking I may still be "in the … [Read more...]
Babysitting Lailah – long day
August 27, 2015 By
Another wonderful (but pretty long) day with the little girl today. Going out to get me a "five guys" burger and fries now. Pictures, videos, stories may or may not be posted later, depending on the mood of GranPaBrian when he gets back from eating his luscious burger... Stay tuned for more Lailah news on this channel. … [Read more...]
Lailah – Babysitting – Jordan picking her up
August 27, 2015 By
So Jordan comes by to pick her up tonight, after getting off work. We're in the living room, she is "hiding" from her dad, as she always does - it's a game with her. While waiting for her to show herself, we talk about his day, I compliment him on the recent "job completion" pics that were posted by his boss (at Infinite Decks), and other stuff (like what she and I did today), and also caught up … [Read more...]
TV – “Mr. Robot”
August 27, 2015 By
Last few nights, I've been watching this new show called "Mr. Robot", with Christian Slater (in a supporting role). It's a bit interesting, but also, kinda "out there". Just finished episode 8, where two very, very surprising things happen toward the end - coming from totally out of the blue, total plot twists, etc. Only two episodes left before the end of this first season, then gonna have to … [Read more...]
Star Wars: Science Fiction?
August 26, 2015 By
I've been going through some boxes in my garage these last couple of weeks, and found a box which had mostly old personal papers in it, but also had a book or two (which was really strange). The box was a moving box from when I moved about nine yrs ago, and apparently the books inside were "lost" in the move, until now. The book I found was "Star Wars Trilogy". And, while sitting down just now … [Read more...]
