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Dec. 27th, 2005 08:46 am
Thank you, Mogu? and work
Thank you 
Mip for my card--most likely I missed posting about it earlier, but it did get here.
So, Abby found this little Mogu doll at Dillard's yesterday. Rachel jokingly showed it to grandma--and was completely surprised when she ended up buying it for Abby. So now he/she is at our house, dressed in some of Abby's pajamas. His/her name is Bubbles, too.
While I am not the only one at work again, it is comforting to know that our phone system is having issues. Calls are sporadic, for what it's worth.
Mip for my card--most likely I missed posting about it earlier, but it did get here.So, Abby found this little Mogu doll at Dillard's yesterday. Rachel jokingly showed it to grandma--and was completely surprised when she ended up buying it for Abby. So now he/she is at our house, dressed in some of Abby's pajamas. His/her name is Bubbles, too.
While I am not the only one at work again, it is comforting to know that our phone system is having issues. Calls are sporadic, for what it's worth.
Because it seems to have a more dramatic flair to say that I am the only one at work in my office, I held off on posting anything until Travis left for the day.
So, I'm the only one at work in my office--in our Williams Hall office area, to be even more exact. There are a few things to keep me busy throughout the day, and I've just gotten the phone at my desk to work correctly again, which I suppose is good. I'm up to 83 of my possible 100 icons. I'm running out of ideas of what else to grab and use. The first fifty or so icons seemed to come easily, and now I'm not sure what to upload. I get a feeling that I'll probably delete some sometime. I wish there were a way to track how much I use icons and then be able to delete icons that I rarely use.
If I skip lunch, I guess I could leave early, no?
So, I'm the only one at work in my office--in our Williams Hall office area, to be even more exact. There are a few things to keep me busy throughout the day, and I've just gotten the phone at my desk to work correctly again, which I suppose is good. I'm up to 83 of my possible 100 icons. I'm running out of ideas of what else to grab and use. The first fifty or so icons seemed to come easily, and now I'm not sure what to upload. I get a feeling that I'll probably delete some sometime. I wish there were a way to track how much I use icons and then be able to delete icons that I rarely use.
If I skip lunch, I guess I could leave early, no?
So, after Patrick mentioned seeing a billboard advertising specialists in vasectomy reversal, the first thought I had and vocalized was the following:
The other thing Patrick wondered about, WHO would go to a doctor that advertised that way?
"You know that PR guy's probably lost his job. Though, I wonder if he proposed something for the side of a milk carton. Something like, HAVE YOU SEEN MY VAS DEFERENS?"
The other thing Patrick wondered about, WHO would go to a doctor that advertised that way?
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Nov. 28th, 2005 10:26 am
So that's what it takes, huh?
I suppose I've found the secret to getting to work on time (for me): waking up at 5:45 a.m.
I was in with time to spare.
Funny thing is that it's not like I have an evil commute or that far to drive to work (typically ten to fifteen minutes one way). Perhaps funny isn't the word. Pathetic and sad perhaps?
I was in with time to spare.
Funny thing is that it's not like I have an evil commute or that far to drive to work (typically ten to fifteen minutes one way). Perhaps funny isn't the word. Pathetic and sad perhaps?
Nov. 3rd, 2005 03:14 pm
With a quickness
Six months flew by.
Also, I really need to request more memory for the desktop PC in my office.
Also, I really need to request more memory for the desktop PC in my office.
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Jonothan had a fever late Sunday, yesterday, and through last night.
It broke about three or so in the morning, but we're keeping him home and probably taking him to the doctor if he still doesn't seem like he's feeling well today. I stayed home with him yesterday, and Rachel's at home with him today.
In the process, I've found out I have 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, and 6 personal days. I will only be able to carry over 10 vacation days--meaning I'll have to use at least three up by the end of the month. Which, really, is fine by me.
Once our network backbone is set up, and some of the big stuff in the background is set up, it's going to be even more conducive to taking time off every once in a while.
Anyway, all that to say I'm glad to have the days.
It broke about three or so in the morning, but we're keeping him home and probably taking him to the doctor if he still doesn't seem like he's feeling well today. I stayed home with him yesterday, and Rachel's at home with him today.
In the process, I've found out I have 13 vacation days, 13 sick days, and 6 personal days. I will only be able to carry over 10 vacation days--meaning I'll have to use at least three up by the end of the month. Which, really, is fine by me.
Once our network backbone is set up, and some of the big stuff in the background is set up, it's going to be even more conducive to taking time off every once in a while.
Anyway, all that to say I'm glad to have the days.
Thank you for your sympathies and comments.
Rachel, Abby, Jonothan and I drove up to Jacksonville on Friday morning. The viewing was that evening and the service was on Saturday morning, with a fellowship lunch afterward. We took both Abby and Jonothan to the viewing, which was something of a challenge. Despite having talked with her a bit beforehand, Abby didn't quite seem to understand. Rachel walked out with her and talked to her some more and Abby was a bit more unsure and possibly a bit frightened. For what it's worth, having family come in from elsewhere helped to ease her tension. While Jonothan really didn't sit still, it was much easier when we got his stroller out and put him in it. At any rate, it was easy to just roll him outside and walk a few laps outside and then walk back into the funeral home. After 6:30 p.m or so, the place got packed and we stayed out in the lobby area. The only thing that really irritated me was the lady on her cell phone the WHOLE time. I can only hope that she did not do that in the viewing room. The more she talked on the phone, the angrier I got. In my opinion, she should have walked outside to make her oh so important calls, at the very least.
After the viewing, all of our family retreated back to Dean and Stacey's home for a late dinner. It had been at least one or two years since some of us had seen each other. Unfortunately, sometime during that night, the A/C unit froze up and would not work for anything.
The next morning, Jonothan woke up at about 6:00 a.m., but I managed to contain him until about 7:00 a.m. when Dean decided to make a Dunkin' Donuts run. It only made sense that I should drive and we could take Jonothan with us, so as to keep him from going from person to person in an unintended wake up call of sorts. While I had noticed the evening before on the drive to the funeral home, it became even more apparent to me in the morning just how many strip clubs there are in Jacksonville. Well, perhaps just in that part of Jacksonville. We bought our donuts and returned home. Somehow, the eight of us that stayed at Dean and Stacey's managed to get ready before 11:00 a.m. with only two bathrooms. I was amazed, anyway.
Mary, a person from Dean and Stacey's congregation, had offered to have us stay the previous evening, but we had declined. While we were getting ready on Saturday morning, Mary called to let us know that she had arranged for a person to work the nursery, so that Abby and Jonothan would have somewhere to go, if needed, during the memorial service. It was a good thing she had done so, because I was unsure what we'd do with Abby and Jonothan otherwise.
The service was very nicely done, I've only been to this one and my old friend Terry's not that long ago. As I told Rachel afterward, seeing a casket that small just seemed so wrong. While the majority of us kept our composure during most of the service, whenever the pictures of Emma and the songs played behind them, I don't think anyone could help but tear up in some way. And when we greeted Dean, Stacey and Alison after the service, I can't even begin to say.
I don't have the program with me, or I'd be able to type up the different songs and messages that were included in it. One of Emma's teachers read Welcome to Holland, which I've included below:
Emma's grandfather (Rachel's dad) wrote the following and e-mailed it to our families. It was printed on the program as well.
We're getting back into our routines and such, but the Pennsylvania side of the family had the viewing last night, and funeral services and interment is today as well, from what I recall. If it could have been feasible for us to do so, we'd have made arrangements to be there as well. As it is, however, that would have been extremely difficult for us to do. Dean, Stacey and Alison were able to get a flight up, but they had to leave the fellowship lunch as quickly as it was done to make their flight.
Rachel, Abby, Jonothan and I drove up to Jacksonville on Friday morning. The viewing was that evening and the service was on Saturday morning, with a fellowship lunch afterward. We took both Abby and Jonothan to the viewing, which was something of a challenge. Despite having talked with her a bit beforehand, Abby didn't quite seem to understand. Rachel walked out with her and talked to her some more and Abby was a bit more unsure and possibly a bit frightened. For what it's worth, having family come in from elsewhere helped to ease her tension. While Jonothan really didn't sit still, it was much easier when we got his stroller out and put him in it. At any rate, it was easy to just roll him outside and walk a few laps outside and then walk back into the funeral home. After 6:30 p.m or so, the place got packed and we stayed out in the lobby area. The only thing that really irritated me was the lady on her cell phone the WHOLE time. I can only hope that she did not do that in the viewing room. The more she talked on the phone, the angrier I got. In my opinion, she should have walked outside to make her oh so important calls, at the very least.
After the viewing, all of our family retreated back to Dean and Stacey's home for a late dinner. It had been at least one or two years since some of us had seen each other. Unfortunately, sometime during that night, the A/C unit froze up and would not work for anything.
The next morning, Jonothan woke up at about 6:00 a.m., but I managed to contain him until about 7:00 a.m. when Dean decided to make a Dunkin' Donuts run. It only made sense that I should drive and we could take Jonothan with us, so as to keep him from going from person to person in an unintended wake up call of sorts. While I had noticed the evening before on the drive to the funeral home, it became even more apparent to me in the morning just how many strip clubs there are in Jacksonville. Well, perhaps just in that part of Jacksonville. We bought our donuts and returned home. Somehow, the eight of us that stayed at Dean and Stacey's managed to get ready before 11:00 a.m. with only two bathrooms. I was amazed, anyway.
Mary, a person from Dean and Stacey's congregation, had offered to have us stay the previous evening, but we had declined. While we were getting ready on Saturday morning, Mary called to let us know that she had arranged for a person to work the nursery, so that Abby and Jonothan would have somewhere to go, if needed, during the memorial service. It was a good thing she had done so, because I was unsure what we'd do with Abby and Jonothan otherwise.
The service was very nicely done, I've only been to this one and my old friend Terry's not that long ago. As I told Rachel afterward, seeing a casket that small just seemed so wrong. While the majority of us kept our composure during most of the service, whenever the pictures of Emma and the songs played behind them, I don't think anyone could help but tear up in some way. And when we greeted Dean, Stacey and Alison after the service, I can't even begin to say.
I don't have the program with me, or I'd be able to type up the different songs and messages that were included in it. One of Emma's teachers read Welcome to Holland, which I've included below:
Welcome To Holland
by Emily Perl Kingsley
©1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved.
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.
Emma's grandfather (Rachel's dad) wrote the following and e-mailed it to our families. It was printed on the program as well.
My Heroine Died Today
Webster defines a hero as one "celebrated for special achievements and attributes", and a heroine as "a woman renowned for her courage". We all have heroes, as a young man, mine was Roberto Clemente. It was a joy to watch him play baseball with reckless abandon. And ,in the end, he gave his life serving others. Later, Mother Teresa became a heroine of mine, serving the least of the least for her precious Jesus. But, in recent years my heroine has been a frail little girl named Emma. How can I call someone less than fifty pounds a heroine?
Easy, I watched her fight the good fight for almost nine years! Those first few days, the doctors said she would not make it, but Emma fought to live. It was one battle after another, one hospitalization after another, yet she would not quit.
They said she would never walk, but this past Spring, I had the privilege of watching her walk the halls of her school in her walker. She had a tough life, but she lived it with a smile.
So, why would God call Emma to a tough life? I don’t know, but I do know that only the very best are called to the ministry of suffering. When the apostle Paul was called, the Lord said, "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name" (Acts 9:16). We know all the things that happened to Paul, yet he was able to say in Romans 8:18 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us". As I read that verse I see Emma, as she is now, whole, standing, praising Jesus as she leaps into His arms.
In the end, it can be said of Emma, as it was of Paul in II Tim. 4:7-8 , "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness".
I love Emma and I will miss her, but as with all heroines, her memory lives.
I can look forward to that day when I will see her again in that mansion prepared for her by Jesus (John 14:2-3).
GrandPa Partington
We're getting back into our routines and such, but the Pennsylvania side of the family had the viewing last night, and funeral services and interment is today as well, from what I recall. If it could have been feasible for us to do so, we'd have made arrangements to be there as well. As it is, however, that would have been extremely difficult for us to do. Dean, Stacey and Alison were able to get a flight up, but they had to leave the fellowship lunch as quickly as it was done to make their flight.
Aug. 8th, 2005 10:46 pm
C'est la vie
C'est la vie. . .
Apparently, I do not make a good fit with State Farm, but, they'll keep my resume, blah blah blah. . .
It is something of a consolation that I did get a bit of additional pay a little while ago, and Rachel will be getting her raise and bonus, too. Still, rejection is rejection. At least it wasn't from a fool. That'd be cruel.
Also, Wanted on TNT is pretty violent. Just sayin'. And here I thought FX's Over There was brutal, which it is as well, but still.
Apparently, I do not make a good fit with State Farm, but, they'll keep my resume, blah blah blah. . .
It is something of a consolation that I did get a bit of additional pay a little while ago, and Rachel will be getting her raise and bonus, too. Still, rejection is rejection. At least it wasn't from a fool. That'd be cruel.
Also, Wanted on TNT is pretty violent. Just sayin'. And here I thought FX's Over There was brutal, which it is as well, but still.
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The latex gloves were never my favorites--sorry all you latex lovers out there.
While it took some time to get used to, the polyurethane ones were great! No powdery residue, and my hands didn't get all wonky after wearing them for an extended period of time.
Now, the only choice are the dozens of boxes of Esteem with Neu-Thera powder-free blue nitrile gloves availabe in all three sizes, small, medium, and large. The feeling of them is indescribable at this moment, but suffice it to say that I HATE 'em. I haven't gotten to the point where they're dead to me, but I dislike them immensely.
While it took some time to get used to, the polyurethane ones were great! No powdery residue, and my hands didn't get all wonky after wearing them for an extended period of time.
Now, the only choice are the dozens of boxes of Esteem with Neu-Thera powder-free blue nitrile gloves availabe in all three sizes, small, medium, and large. The feeling of them is indescribable at this moment, but suffice it to say that I HATE 'em. I haven't gotten to the point where they're dead to me, but I dislike them immensely.
Jun. 27th, 2005 08:34 am
New boss, and Well DUH! calendar entries
New boss starts today--it's been a while since we've had a boss. . .
Well DUH entries from the weekend follow below. Also, while I really like Harry Nilsson's version of Everybody's Talkin', The Beautiful South's treatment of it has to be my favorite treatment of it. It was a sad thing to have missed them performing it on Trio (when Trio was still on the air, and before we had TiVo).
Today's entry:
In 1993, a Yale divinity student and ten translators converted the Bible into Klingon. (Memo to hard-working college students: There are no Klingons outside of the TV show Star Trek)
From Sunday:
In 1991, the Sony Corporation decided to give a lifetime achievement award to ragtime piano player Eubie Blake. The company invited the musician to the ceremony, with the exec in charge of the affair predicting it would be "an uplifting experience." It would have been amazingly uplifting since Blake had been dead for eight years by then.
From Saturday:
In 1901, Maud Willard threw herself over the Niagara Falls in a barrel, but the fall didn't kill her as it has other daredevils. What got Maud? She forced her dog into the barrel with her. The dog pressed its nose up against th barrel's single air vent, and Maud suffocated.
From Friday:
In 1996, a Pennsylvania man was arrested for harassment because every time he saw his ex-wife he oinked at her.
Well DUH entries from the weekend follow below. Also, while I really like Harry Nilsson's version of Everybody's Talkin', The Beautiful South's treatment of it has to be my favorite treatment of it. It was a sad thing to have missed them performing it on Trio (when Trio was still on the air, and before we had TiVo).
Today's entry:
They Had to Go to School for This?
In 1993, a Yale divinity student and ten translators converted the Bible into Klingon. (Memo to hard-working college students: There are no Klingons outside of the TV show Star Trek)
From Sunday:
Dumb Plays in the Face of Fate
In 1991, the Sony Corporation decided to give a lifetime achievement award to ragtime piano player Eubie Blake. The company invited the musician to the ceremony, with the exec in charge of the affair predicting it would be "an uplifting experience." It would have been amazingly uplifting since Blake had been dead for eight years by then.
From Saturday:
Dumb Ways to Die
In 1901, Maud Willard threw herself over the Niagara Falls in a barrel, but the fall didn't kill her as it has other daredevils. What got Maud? She forced her dog into the barrel with her. The dog pressed its nose up against th barrel's single air vent, and Maud suffocated.
From Friday:
All Is Stupid in Love and War
In 1996, a Pennsylvania man was arrested for harassment because every time he saw his ex-wife he oinked at her.
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Jun. 26th, 2005 03:04 pm
Middle finger
Somehow, I've gotten what seems to be a splinter in my middle finger.
How this has happened working in my every other weekend office, I do not know.
Hurts like a @#%@$! though.
How this has happened working in my every other weekend office, I do not know.
Hurts like a @#%@$! though.
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Jun. 16th, 2005 11:13 am
Back to work. . .
So, finally back in my office. Apparently, I was missed. It's a nice feeling to have been missed.
While on vacation in Pennsylvania, it seemed like a lot of time was spent eating. After being picked up at Pittsburgh International Airport by Rachel's parents, we made way toward Ellwood City. It amazed me that the airport has a mall inside of it. If I recall correctly, that's the waythe train station Union Station (thanks Alexandra!) in D.C. is as well. It's been a while, so I could be wrong.
When we got to Ellwood, we pulled into Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe and then to J&T's for ice cream. Mmmm. Ice cream!
The rest of our time there is a blur of food, family, graduation (our nephew Nicholas graduated from high school), more food, a graduation party, a petting zoo, children's museum, and more food. Rachel and I never did get to go to Shakespeare's like we had wanted to, but really, we had TONS of food, you know? Abby was doted upon by her grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins. Lucky her got to see Madagascar (or MaDEEgascar, as she says it) and The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D, well maybe she was quite so lucky with the latter, but she seemed to love it.
On the way home, I noticed that Wok and Roll in the airport had sushi, so I dared it and got a tuna roll. It really hit the spot. Rachel opted for a wrap from Au Bon Pain, which I'd never heard of before.
During the trip, I also became more familiar with the soy milk that Jonothan takes. After getting home, I bought some Sun Soy brand chocolate soy milk, and found that I really like it. It is closely followed by Silk's Very Very Vanilla, which I also liked quite a bit. All the rest was just eh, as far as I was concerned. Jonothan seems to like all of it, except the chocolate flavored one, which works out well for me.
While on vacation in Pennsylvania, it seemed like a lot of time was spent eating. After being picked up at Pittsburgh International Airport by Rachel's parents, we made way toward Ellwood City. It amazed me that the airport has a mall inside of it. If I recall correctly, that's the way
Alexandra!) in D.C. is as well. It's been a while, so I could be wrong.When we got to Ellwood, we pulled into Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe and then to J&T's for ice cream. Mmmm. Ice cream!
The rest of our time there is a blur of food, family, graduation (our nephew Nicholas graduated from high school), more food, a graduation party, a petting zoo, children's museum, and more food. Rachel and I never did get to go to Shakespeare's like we had wanted to, but really, we had TONS of food, you know? Abby was doted upon by her grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins. Lucky her got to see Madagascar (or MaDEEgascar, as she says it) and The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D, well maybe she was quite so lucky with the latter, but she seemed to love it.
On the way home, I noticed that Wok and Roll in the airport had sushi, so I dared it and got a tuna roll. It really hit the spot. Rachel opted for a wrap from Au Bon Pain, which I'd never heard of before.
During the trip, I also became more familiar with the soy milk that Jonothan takes. After getting home, I bought some Sun Soy brand chocolate soy milk, and found that I really like it. It is closely followed by Silk's Very Very Vanilla, which I also liked quite a bit. All the rest was just eh, as far as I was concerned. Jonothan seems to like all of it, except the chocolate flavored one, which works out well for me.
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