Let's start at the beginning. The eyes have been failing me for quite some time now. I've always had nearsighted vision ever since fifth grade. Always needed a new (increased) prescription every few years. After getting my last prescription, I noticed it didn't help very much, and, during my last year at USPS, I noticed my eyesight was worsening, both while staring at the PC screen on my job, or … [Read more...]
Townhouse association and driveways?
August 9, 2016 By
All morning long, off in the distance (behind the two story townhouses that face my front yard. (I.e, the next street over), there's been this stupid on-going noise - it's one of those small construction things with a shovel / scoop on the front, and a guy in a cage driving it (what are those called?). Anyway, every time it backs up, the safety beeper starts beeping. No big deal - we just need to … [Read more...]
Writing as a hobby – something to help me
August 9, 2016 By
I was at Tar'get last night, getting my "school supplies" for the new job. A couple of notebooks, notepads, and some pens. I came across this "book" called: "300 writing prompts" First prompt: What's your favorite way to spend a lazy day? Totally random page opening: if you had an opportunity to write as a career, what would you write? (Yes, I kid you not - totally random page). Another … [Read more...]
Razor shopping
August 8, 2016 By
Over the 40 plus years I've been shaving, I have alternated between replaceable cartridge blade razors and electric/rechargeable razors. The majority of time has been using the replaceable cartridge kind. I've probably bought at least 3, and perhaps as many as 4 or 5 electric razors in those forty years. Allways, after a period of time, migrating back to the replaceable cartridges for some … [Read more...]
Give away: free older iPad
August 5, 2016 By
I have a used 3rd generation iPad that hasn't seen use for a couple of years. I've decided to give it away (free). This is not an iPad Air, so, it's a bit heavier than the newer versions. In order to make this fair, I've chosen a number in the range of 1 to 10,000. If you would like to be a part of this lotto, send me a PM with your guess. The person closest to my chosen number will get the iPad. … [Read more...]
Afternoon with a former colleague
August 5, 2016 By
Had a great day yesterday! A former USPS colleague and I met for lunch and a movie. She and I worked together for about a year or two, before she retired. We've always talked about getting together for lunch or whatever, but "never got around to it". She enjoys some of the same things as I do: theatre, movies, etc. Well, we finally got together yesterday, and we just had the best time. We met at … [Read more...]
Hotel rates & upcoming trip to Appleton, WI
August 5, 2016 By
I must be the cheapest new (contract) employee around. My recruiter shared with me the name of a hotel in Appleton, WI, that Thrivent recommends. Without using any corporate discount rate code (since I don't know it), the room rate is $200+ a night. I don't think so. Once I get the corporate code (you would think it would "thriveent"), maybe the rate would go down to a more respectable $100 or … [Read more...]
Parmesan Cheese
August 2, 2016 By
Went to the grocery store last night. Picked up a few pasta items (ravioli, lasagna, and tortellini), and some pasta sauce. Knew I needed some Parmesan cheese. Got some salad. Got a loaf of Italian (French?) bread. Got feta and blue cheese crumbs (for the salads) Forgot the Parmesan cheese. Argh. I.cannot.live.without.my.parmesan.cheese. (i didn't forget my Hersey chocolate bars though!) … [Read more...]
Misc thoughts about the past weekend
August 1, 2016 By
Just not in the right mood to write today for some reason. But, let's try and see what I can come up with: Had a truly nice evening on Friday with Lailah (and her GranMaRose), first opening my b-day presents (play-doh "ice cream cone" making toy, and a nice photo collage frame that will hold 5-6 pics of Lailah, as well as a gift card to IHOP). For some reason, I think both the play-doh toy and … [Read more...]
BigB’s birthday presents from Lailah
August 1, 2016 By
BEST. PRESENTS. EVER. Here I am, having just unwrapped both of my b-day presents from Lailah. The first was a set of new play-doh colors (sparkled, of course). The second was a play-doh toy that makes play-doh ice cream cones. Both presents were very well received by the big guy, since he had scoped them out at the toy store one day with Lailah in tow. Lailah obviously cared enough to "insist" … [Read more...]
BigB’s B-day dinner with Lailah
July 29, 2016 By
Had an awesome b-day dinner with Lailah (and her GMR) at the Mediterranean Cruise in Burnsville tonight. Some of you may know this place - there is live belly dancing. The belly dancer came over after a few dances and asked Lailah if she wanted to dance on the "stage" with her. To her credit, she got up and danced (three other girls a few yrs older than her, also were invited, so it was a pretty … [Read more...]
Flag burning…
July 29, 2016 By
I was born in 1959. Making me 9 years old in 1968, during the time of the riots happening across the country, the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. and the beginning of the Vietnam war protests (which means I was 12-13 in 1971-72). Being nine yours old, a kid of that age is still quite innocent, and not at all knowledgable or caring about anything happening outside his … [Read more...]
Homeless people or others asking for handouts, downtown
July 28, 2016 By
Setting: Rick and I met for lunch after the interview, eating at Andreas pizza in the skyway - a fav eatery close by to where I worked at Wells Fargo during 2011/2012. We then got out of the skyway and walked outside for a bit, enjoying the fresh air - more so me, than Rick (not sure if he really likes fresh air or not - lol) We then went to downtown B&N, and actually also went to downtown … [Read more...]
Lailah’s new dolls – and creepiness
July 27, 2016 By
I bought a new doll for Lailah a month or so ago. Gave it to her when she was here, a couple of times ago. She immediately tells me "...She's 'creepy', GranPa..." I ask her what she means, thinking it's because of the thing sticking out the doll's head. "No, GranPa, her glasses are creepy!" And, asks me "...can we get rid of her glasses?..." Yup, of course. They were attached with small permanent … [Read more...]
Lailah, ice cream, and having kids of my own
July 27, 2016 By
This short video from a year ago always makes me laugh. She is always so crazy. I think back about my own childhood - and I truly don't have any good memories of growing up - not sure whether this is because I have a truly bad memory, or if I actually didn't have any "fun" as a child with my parents. I think of the two of them, my mom was pretty stiff, and rigid in her ways (no spilling of ice … [Read more...]
New credit/debit card – surprise!
July 26, 2016 By
My local bank recently sent a letter indicating they were replacing my old debit card with a new "chip" card and offered me a choice of either their default (boring) design, or I could upload a photo to use in it's place. I think it came out really good (this picture of the card is fuzzy in some areas since I used photoshop to remove the numbers/dates, as well as the "chip" that was growing out … [Read more...]
Voting for a third party candidate or not voting at all
July 25, 2016 By
Below (way below) is an article about voting for a third party... If I can find my voice (I.e., the words) in the next week or so, I'll chime in as well with my own thoughts regarding how voting for a third party doesn't accomplish anything, other than to help elect that person whom you least like. Yes, you may think that both candidates suck, and both might be unworthy of holding the most … [Read more...]
Inspired to get myself a new business card
July 25, 2016 By
I think I just might have to get me a new business card...Something like: Brian S. Williams Armchair Model Railroader Talented Paint-Nite Painter Opinionated FaceBook Blogger Complete Amateur Photographer AKA Lailah's GranPaBrian. Thanks goes to Susan Hipkins DeBow for the inspiration! … [Read more...]
