I'm into photography, been into it since end of HS. I came across a professional photographer a few months ago who gives photography advice over YouTube. He has (to me) a great personality and knows what he's talking about photography wise. I was just reading his blog and read this (recent?) posting, regarding what he calls "haters", about people who leave (very) negative comments on his YouTube … [Read more...]
Friendship – Linda Dowell – part one
February 17, 2015 By
A former Wells Fargo colleague of mine, Linda, is in the hospital and needs some extra love. A month ago she went to have knee replacement surgery, which was successful. However, a couple of days later due to unusual sleepiness and headaches, a CT scan revealed a baseball size brain tumor. On Jan 24th the tumor was removed during an 8 hour surgery. The tumor was found to be a malignant … [Read more...]
Lailah – she tires me out!
February 13, 2015 By
Not really sure which tires me more: Taking all of Lailah's toys, books, playthings (castles, pirate fairies, stuffed animals) out and putting them around the house to make sure she sees them and plays with as many of them as she wants, Playing with Lailah all day long, Collecting everything off the floor after she leaves and putting the stuff away. I know it's not the second choice, and … [Read more...]
Lailah – sick!
February 6, 2015 By
I'd heard yesterday that "my" little girl (AKA Lailah) was pretty sick, so I knew I probably wouldn't be seeing her today (her "regular" day with me). Realizing that I saw her on Tuesday has "helped" (somewhat), but I am sure hoping she's feeling better since it's really really lonesome here without having her to babysit and play with me. Lailah - It's not the same, looking at the (thousands of) … [Read more...]
Religion – a different perspective
February 4, 2015 By
A lot of you don't know me that well, so here is a disclaimer in advance to my posting below: I was brought up Baptist, and my family was "religious" such that we attended church a couple of times each week, all thru elementary, JR and SR high school. That is, until high school ended and I then stopped going to church soon after. Since then, I guess I also stopped "believing" due to a variety of … [Read more...]
Lailah – last minute visit!
February 4, 2015 By
I had a last minute visit by "my" little girl last night. Her parents had an event to go to and they dropped her off so that she could babysit me. I had gone to Cub (Foods) earlier (yesterday) and I, again, wandered past the small area/aisle of toys (which is really strange, I feel, for a grocery store to have), but I again noticed the Hot Wheels display, and I looked thru them, remembering how … [Read more...]
Toys from childhood
February 4, 2015 By
Ever have a favorite toy that you grew up with, that you absolutely loved playing with, but due to being "old", you have forgotten what it was called? Well, I had a few favs when I was a kid, and for the life of me, I couldn't remember the name of them - and if a person can't remember the name, it's pretty hard to look for them on eBay... One of my favs was a set of three robots - which is why … [Read more...]
U/Saint Thomas – Classes – Spring/2015 – part two
February 4, 2015 By
Had my first class session for both of my two evening courses this week: SW Architecture was on Monday, and Advanced web app development was tonight. Since I'm also taking a Saturday class (which is a required class), and not wanting to take 3 classes at a time, I must decide on which evening class to "drop". [the plan has always been to only take two classes this semester]. The SW Architecture … [Read more...]
U/Saint Thomas – classes – Spring/2015 – part one
January 31, 2015 By
It "dawned" on me a couple of days ago: Spring session at Saint Thomas is starting (where the heck did January go??) My evening class starts this coming week, and my Saturday class is starting two weeks from today. I had previously (in November) registered for "Software architecture" for Monday evenings, but today I hedged my bets by enrolling in "Advanced web development" (on Wednesday nights). … [Read more...]
Lailah – My Cup Runneth Over
January 24, 2015 By
My cup runneth over this week: Had a great sleep-over with Lailah on Thursday night, she then babysat me all day long on Friday (until her dada came by at 5 PMish to take her home), and I also got a chance to be with her tonight at the Saint Paul Ice Carnival. While walking from the parking ramp, we pass the Landmark Center Building, and while looking upward and pointing at it (the tall … [Read more...]
Lialah’s first sleep-over (since Granma moved out)
January 22, 2015 By
Tonight was our first Lailah/GranPa Brian sleep-over since GranMa Rose moved out of the home we shared together (to her own place last fall). Lailah dropped by around 5:30pm tonight since it was Katie and Jordan's (Lailah"s parents) fourth anniversary of being together, and Lailah wanted to babysit me instead of having to watch cartoons all by herself at her parent's place (and/or whooping it up … [Read more...]
Lailah visits the ‘night trains’ at Bandana Square
January 18, 2015 By
We took Lailah to see the "night trains" at Bandana Square on Saturday night (Energy Park Drive, between Snelling & Lexington - close to the state fair grounds). If you've not heard of this place, it's a former railroad locomotive engine servicing facility originally built in the late 1800's (not a typo), and now since converted into offices, etc. Within this building complex, there is the … [Read more...]
Movie: The Imitation Game
January 18, 2015 By
I had the opportunity to see the movie "The Imitation Game" tonight. Do not be put off by the subject matter. Just go see it. There is no violence (ok, maybe one short scene), no "F-words", no sex, and not a whole lot of "action" (like cars chasing each other, etc.), it's just a true story about someone who lived during the World War II, and their contribution toward ending that war, as well as … [Read more...]
Power of a hug(s)
January 18, 2015 By
I've spoken a few times before, about a former colleague of mine - where we meet about once a yr for lunch, and we always welcome each other with a huge hug, and it's as if it were "just last week" when you saw them last - and the conversation picks up where it left off, the last time you saw them, etc. Today, I saw a different colleague and friend - and looking back (afterwards), I now realize … [Read more...]
Music in my head: What Lola wants…Lola gets…
January 14, 2015 By
So. [I really love beginning my posts with 'So' - "they" say it's against rules of style/grammar but it also draws you people in - JK] So. I was listening to the "radio" (Spotify?) a day or two ago, and they played a tune that I've heard before (several/many times), but didn't know where it came from, usually it's a female vocal tune, and it's a jazzy tune, sassy, (and maybe a bit 'sexy'). Since … [Read more...]
Paying it forward, 2014 style and 2015 invite
January 3, 2015 By
This past year, I did something that I've never done before that was very unusual and not at all typical. Without getting into the gory details, let's just say I believe I put some surprise and (hopefully) joy into the lives of a couple of my former HS friends - two special and wonderful people whom I've not seen in more than thirty years (AA and DR). These two persons played a very important and … [Read more...]
Lailah – Little Babysitting Terror that she is!
January 2, 2015 By
Another Friday, another day babysitting the beautiful little girl whose name cannot be uttered out loud (ssshhh: Lailah), the holy terror, the one that demands on a minute by minute basis: "come down here (to the floor, and off the comfortable lazy boy), and PLAY with me now, DARN IT!", the little one that is trying so desperately hard to give her Granpa a stroke (I know she must have a life … [Read more...]
A story and my thoughts on Christmas
December 28, 2014 By
It's midnight here in the Twin Cities and I wanted to share a short story (and some thoughts). I woke up this morning around the usual time, and looked out the window, and saw a most beautiful thing: Snow on the ground. This apparently occurred overnight while the Big Guy (me) was sleeping. It just wasn't an inch, it looked like 4-5 inches to me. And, it looked truly wonderful. I'm not a huge fan … [Read more...]
Lailah – Unusual phone call request
December 2, 2014 By
Got home from class tonight and my phone starts to ring - unusual since it was ~9pm. Seems Lailah asked her mom to call Granpa Brian to see if he was available to play with her tomorrow (this, in addition to my usual Friday playdate with her). I had to check my social/business calendar (I'm very, very busy these days, ya know?) to see if I had any major power meetings scheduled for Wednesday, but, … [Read more...]
Lailah – Sam’s Club and the Dollhouse
November 10, 2014 By
Note to self: when taking the granddaughter to Sam's Club, do not, repeat, do not, take her down the toy aisle. Silly me, we passed a 3 story dollhouse sitting on a shelf. I picked her up to show her all the various rooms and furniture in it. Tried to move on many times, but she wasn't having it. Tried to tell her it'll be a Christmas present, but that didn't go over (too young to understand that, … [Read more...]
