May 29, 2007
(Very Brief) Random Weekend Nonsense
Well that was a...weekend, anyway. Once again, I was on call for the holiday. Fortunately, no one called in sick this time.
Anyway, I put the smack-down on the general class test so as of some time last week, I am officially able to operate on the high-frequency (HF) bands. Which is why I did this whole ham thing in the first place. Now comes the fun part: picking a radio! I have pretty well decided which one I would like to get, but it's all a matter of saving. I intend on getting an very-high frequency/ultra-high frequency (VHF/UHF) mobile radio for the Honda first (hopefully in as little as two weeks, depending on how things go) then I'll start saving up for the HF rig. Then we put up an appropriate antenna across the roof or in the back yard and it's on! Sadly, VHF/UHF doesn't bounce around the ionosphere, so they are mainly only good for local communications (hence the desire for a long-distance capable HF radio) and even then most clubs put up a repeater to extend the range of mobile and hand-held radios. Last week I installed the antenna on the Honda and I must say it looks pretty sweet up there--in a very ham-geek kind of way.
As far as movies go, Employee Of The Month isn't bad if you are buying what Dane Cook is selling. I enjoyed it, but then again, I like painfully sophomoric, fart-joke movies from time to time. Also of interest, although not quite as good as I had hoped was Children of Men. It was shot in such a fashion as to keep you, the viewer, as much a part of the action as possible. The story was alright and I know there was supposed to be some deep, introspective and somber reflection on humanity as a whole in there, but I'm sure it was wasted on my public-school brain. Anyway, they're both worth a rent in my book, but I'm often easily amused.
Anyway, I put the smack-down on the general class test so as of some time last week, I am officially able to operate on the high-frequency (HF) bands. Which is why I did this whole ham thing in the first place. Now comes the fun part: picking a radio! I have pretty well decided which one I would like to get, but it's all a matter of saving. I intend on getting an very-high frequency/ultra-high frequency (VHF/UHF) mobile radio for the Honda first (hopefully in as little as two weeks, depending on how things go) then I'll start saving up for the HF rig. Then we put up an appropriate antenna across the roof or in the back yard and it's on! Sadly, VHF/UHF doesn't bounce around the ionosphere, so they are mainly only good for local communications (hence the desire for a long-distance capable HF radio) and even then most clubs put up a repeater to extend the range of mobile and hand-held radios. Last week I installed the antenna on the Honda and I must say it looks pretty sweet up there--in a very ham-geek kind of way.
As far as movies go, Employee Of The Month isn't bad if you are buying what Dane Cook is selling. I enjoyed it, but then again, I like painfully sophomoric, fart-joke movies from time to time. Also of interest, although not quite as good as I had hoped was Children of Men. It was shot in such a fashion as to keep you, the viewer, as much a part of the action as possible. The story was alright and I know there was supposed to be some deep, introspective and somber reflection on humanity as a whole in there, but I'm sure it was wasted on my public-school brain. Anyway, they're both worth a rent in my book, but I'm often easily amused.
Labels: Random Weekend Nonsense
// posted by wayne @ 5/29/2007 05:08:00 AM 
May 22, 2007
Food Day Lives On!
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages; come one, come all to the return of The Tour 3 Food Day!
This evening, we decided to have another food day to send off one of our newbies who has found more bountiful employment and will be leaving at the end of this week. Ordinarily, quitters should be shunned, but it's hard to blame someone for taking a higher paying position in his chosen field which is by far closer to his home. Don't get me wrong, we could easily harass him all day, but it just doesn't seem as rewarding as it used to.
There wasn't so much a theme this time, as much as a plan. We had one main course, smoked brisket, with baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, chili-cheese queso, 7 layer dip, and cheesecake. It was ALL good, and I think the original Food Night contributors who have since moved on to greener pastures would be proud even though there was only one dish with chilies of any kind!
I think we're going to have to do this again real soon.
This evening, we decided to have another food day to send off one of our newbies who has found more bountiful employment and will be leaving at the end of this week. Ordinarily, quitters should be shunned, but it's hard to blame someone for taking a higher paying position in his chosen field which is by far closer to his home. Don't get me wrong, we could easily harass him all day, but it just doesn't seem as rewarding as it used to.
There wasn't so much a theme this time, as much as a plan. We had one main course, smoked brisket, with baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, chili-cheese queso, 7 layer dip, and cheesecake. It was ALL good, and I think the original Food Night contributors who have since moved on to greener pastures would be proud even though there was only one dish with chilies of any kind!
I think we're going to have to do this again real soon.
// posted by wayne @ 5/22/2007 06:29:00 PM
May 08, 2007
Piper June: April 16th, 1997 - May 6th, 2007
It pains me greatly to have to write this post, and those of you who know us well will understand exactly what I mean by that when I say our little Fatpup is no longer with us.Piper first came in to our lives in the winter of 1998--January--the year after we purchased this house. She was born on April 16th, 1997 according to her papers, but we never registered her as we knew she would not be a "breeder". Piper was a happy, energetic, cheerful pup--at times perhaps too much so--and occasionally she was capable of incredible obstinance. She would chase the rabbits who had taken up residence under our deck until she had wore herself smooth out and would occasionally even catch one. After she'd had enough, she'd lay in the grass to cool off, in spite of developing an allergy to the seeds.
About a year after we got her, she contracted lyme disease from tics so amazingly tiny they could barely be seen. Our old vet (emphasis on old) misdiagnosed the symptoms, and it was almost the end of her. Aimee, tired of seeing her condition worsening, decided to take her to a different vet for a second opinion. Piper was correctly diagnosed and proceeded to make a very slow recovery. Unfortunately, her joints had become arthritic from the lyme disease but she was put on a combination of maintenance drugs that allowed her a fairly active lifestyle for a pooch who had just survived an 18-week course of antibiotics to get the lyme disease in check.
She got back to her old habits in short order and even managed to catch a rabbit or two from time to time, which is amazing given that she had gained enough weight to earn the nickname "Fatpup". In all fairness, it wasn't her fault. It was a combination of reduced activity from the arthritis and increased appetite from the prednisone. It was rather humorous to watch her trot around the shed chasing after a rabbit while the rabbit stopped occasionally to allow her to catch up! I'm not joking either--to this day I wish I had videotaped it.
Piper was mostly bark and very little bite, unless you were trying to clip her nails or happened to be an annoying child pulling her ears. Of course she never actually bit a child, but she did let more than one know she was bored of their attention. Overall, Piper was a very good dog and fiercely loyal to Aimee. I could leave for work every day and she'd barely raise an eyebrow, but if Aimee was gone for even 15 minutes, lookout! The few annoyances she displayed were easily overlooked when considering how much joy she brought to the both of us and for that she will be sorely missed. I find it absolutely amazing how quickly pets become such a large part of our lives, but I'm sure it has a lot to do with the unconditional love they bring to the table. Piper was not a "cuddly" dog, but she was a loving dog and it will take some time before we're used to life without her, although I never expected it would be quite so soon. We always knew having lyme disease and taking the maintenance drugs would be hard on her body and would ultimately shorten her life, but when the day came, the advance knowledge did not make it any easier.
Piper had an excellent life, considering the things she'd been through and lived with on a daily basis, and I am absolutely convinced that is all due to Aimee's tireless attention and care of that little dog. If Piper had landed on any other doorstep, she probably would not have survived the incorrect diagnosis--never mind going on to be the happy, loving, well-fed, pampered pooch she was. She will most definitely be missed.
// posted by wayne @ 5/08/2007 05:18:00 AM
May 04, 2007
FOXNews.com - Paris Hilton Sentenced to 45 Days in Jail for Probation Violation - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment
FOXNews.com - Paris Hilton Sentenced to 45 Days in Jail for Probation Violation - Celebrity Gossip Entertainment News Arts And Entertainment
The headline says it all! What a refreshing way to start the weekend!
The headline says it all! What a refreshing way to start the weekend!
// posted by wayne @ 5/04/2007 09:49:00 PM
