Kinky Boots in town

Went to the Orpheum Theater this afternoon to see the musical "Kinky Boots". Loved the absolutely hilarious movie a few yrs ago, and decided to see this - I'd forgotten the show was a musical, and thought it was just a play (silly me). Anyway, while it was just "ok" in the beginning, by the middle of the first act, and especially the second act, it just got better and better, with a great … [Read more...]

New music: Post Modern Jukebox

New music "Post Modern Jukebox" (opens in a new window) Since you "liked" this, I wanted to share with you that this is my new fav group, having seen a different video of theirs recently ("All about that bass"). I've subsequently bought one of their "albums" on iTunes called "Historical misappropriations". Great music. … [Read more...]

Unisys Plant 8 (Defense Building) torn down

Twice now in the past couple of weeks, I've been in the Eagan area, driving either on Pilot Knob or Yankee Doodle, and been caught unawares by a huge empty space/field, where the Unisys Defense ("Paramax/Lockheed Martin") building stood for 30 or more years. Even though I worked in the Unisys MACS building "right next to it" for close to twenty years, I never had the opportunity to see the inside … [Read more...]

Relationship advice

Today's profound thoughts. Something I read many, many years ago (but never applied in my life). Here are three "tests" to "gauge" whether or not your new (or current) relationship will work out (is working). Play a game(s) together - do you enjoy playing a game(s) with them? Do a project together - did you enjoy that experience or was it a real struggle to work together completing … [Read more...]

Raising kids – funny video

Raising kids video (opens in new window) This was me (clueless), until 3 yrs ago. I'm still somewhat clueless, but I have a much better understanding now than I did before Lailah. … [Read more...]

Big B’s birthday thoughts

There are times when words do not escape me, and other times when I'm so overwhelmed that I cannot find the right words to express my feelings. This is NOT one of those times. I am so very grateful to all of my former HS friends, my former Unisys, WF, and USPS colleagues/friends, my family and close friends that sent me birthday greetings yesterday, via Facebook or other methods. Each and every … [Read more...]

Daughter Elyse and her “new” camera

Ah, and one last thing. I loaned my Sony Mirrorless camera to Elyse after she came out here in early June. She's never been into photography (or so she told me), until we went to downtown MPLS together, and she shot a few pictures (300 of them, to be "exact"). So, she's had the camera for almost 6-7 weeks now, and she went on a sightseeing trip with a friend for a few days, and ended up taking … [Read more...]

Recommendations: shows, food, movies, etc

Today's miscellaneous Recommendations: Chilies restaurant: margarita chicken tex mex bowl, combined with their white queso appetizer and salsa on top is just DELISH! Yum. Locally, here in "beautiful downtown" Apple Valley, a "smash burgers" opened up a yr or so ago. I've eaten there a couple of times (but not recently), but they're pretty good. On the other hand, "Five guys" opened up their … [Read more...]

Police brutality – Sandra Bland.

Sandra Bland. My two cents. I've not paid ANY attention to this story - until I saw this morning that the police have released the 'traffic stop/arrest' video. Having just watched the entire ten minute video, I am disturbed by what I saw and heard. While she may have been disrespectful with her cigarette (which may have caused the initial confrontation), the police officer himself was to blame … [Read more...]

Growing up in the wrong musical era

https://www.facebook.com/DrumTalkTV/videos/853846431360689/   I sometimes think I was born in the wrong era. I think I should've been born ten - fifteen years earlier, what, with my strong appreciation for big band music, as well as not being able to fully appreciate (when I was growing up) the talents of Frank, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett as well as Sammy Davis. I wish I'd been able to see … [Read more...]

U/ST Final grade for Object Oriented Software Analysis (“UML” class)

i'm just one lucky SOB [son of bob?]. Been logging into U/St. Thomas almost on a daily basis. Grade was posted today for the summer class: "A-", giving an overall GPA of 3.52. Last course starts after Labor day. … [Read more...]

Geek Movie: Ex Machina

Stumbled across a very good, thought provoking, "cerebral" (geek) movie tonight: Ex Machina", having a rotten tomatoes score of 92%. Highly enjoyed it, highly recommend it. … [Read more...]

Cyber Bullying – response by a 11 yr old boy

Internet bullying strikes again. This 11 yr old boy reads out loud some of the cruel comments people (kids?) have posted regarding his YouTube videos. Please watch his two minute video confronting these commenters. If people don't have anything pleasant to share, why post such negative comments? Where are the parents of these kids who post cruel comments such as these and/or if these aren't … [Read more...]

U/Saint Thomas – Summer class final exam

So, the final exam tonight (for my "Object oriented software analysis & design" class) was closed book, but we could bring a double sided cheat sheet to use. I got there, and the whole row behind me (4-5 people) were poring over copies of someone's cheat sheet - font size 6, double column - I laughingly made a comment about the font size, so one person handled me a copy. I showed them that I … [Read more...]

Rude people texting/FB’ing at the Symphony

NPR article about Patti Lapone confronting person with cell phone during her performance (opens in a new window) This is getting out of hand - last 3-4 shows at Orchestra hall, I've been seated next to people like this. It's so f'ing irritating/distracting. Good for Patti L. … [Read more...]

Friend’s thoughts about marriage equality

More thoughts about marriage equality and the bible by my friend Tina Weems Dolechek. Thanks, Tina, for sharing. I have been reading many posts lately about marriage equality and how the Bible says marriage is between a man and a woman. I thought I would do a little Bible research myself. This is what I found. The Bible is ok with men having more than one wife. King David, remember David The … [Read more...]

Orchestra Hall – Singing in the rain

Orchestra Hall - Singing in the rain (opens in a new window) Got my ticket to see this film & music event at Orchestra Hall tomorrow morning. The musical/movie is a classic, and truth be told, I've probably never seen the entire thing before, so it'll a first for me. Of course, I waited to the last minute to invite a friend to go with me - they apparently would have enjoyed going, but they … [Read more...]

Bill Cosby

I am Greatly, Greatly disappointed in Bill Cosby. I didn't want to speak up before, when this first made the headlines months ago, but it now seems it's been confirmed. Fifty yrs of "the good" that he's done, now completely erased due to an incredibly WARPED (and morally WRONG) sense of "sexual entitlement" [just because he's "Bill Cosby", he thought he could act this way, without any moral … [Read more...]

Fat shaming of women – I’m tired of it

Article about an overweight female blogger (opens in a new window) You go, Girl! Regular size (aka plus size) women rock, and they certainly do not need any negativity about their body size. I'm hoping more and more women start to think more positively about their bodies. Please do not be ashamed or embarrassed about your body - whatever size you are, you are beautiful. And, to those idiot males … [Read more...]

Garbage disposal

Feeling a bit dumb. Garbage disposal jammed. Immediately tried the broomstick method a couple of times, no luck. Didn't want to make it worse by frying the motor so I left it alone while I scratched my head. Finally goggled it, found a video showing the hole in the bottom of the unit, where you insert an allen/hex wench to turn the blades, which, of course, unjammed it in, like, 2 seconds - if … [Read more...]