Archive for March, 2008

Dark campsite

Monday, March 31st, 2008


Per popular request (well, at least a request from Loyal Reader Number Four), here’s our campsite at this month’s Big Sur campout. Quite a bit darker and more foresty than Friday’s picture, no?

Greetings from the train! And the wifi is working! Granted, it’s not fast, but it’s there. Which is a huge improvement, after only about a year and a half. It’s working on only one train so far, and I’m hoping they’ll get going and get it installed on all of them.

Okay weekend. As Loyal Reader Number One mentioned in his comment on Friday’s post, he and Loyal Reader Number Two had a pleasant time at the snow campout. They stayed warm and comfortable, as opposed to the condition of some of their companions. Good going, Loyal Readers!

LRN4 and I stayed home and hosted our young friend Matt, as previously described. He had a fun time, which was good, as LRN4 and I were a little worried he might be bored with just us old folks.

As planned, I got weed killer sprayed on the lawn. Also helped LRN4 get some lattice boards up for climbing plants in the garden. And that’s it, also as planned.

I got a new responsibility at church yesterday – I’m now the first assistant in the High Priests group. Should be an enjoyable job.

Average day at work. I was sad to see my friend Russ retire today, but happy for him. He’ll be greatly missed on the program and by his friends.

It was a good idea to ride the train today. The traffic report I saw before leaving the house said there was an accident involving a semi at one place and one involving an overturned SUV at another. While I’ll never know how bad it would have been, I think I can be pretty sure it wouldn’t have been pretty. Might ride the train again tomorrow. Maybe not, though.

It’s a beautiful sunny afternoon. The day didn’t start out too well, though. It was in the mid-30s when I left the house, and the walk from the on-campus bus stop to my building was uncomfortably cold. Pity me, Loyal Readers.

Possibly some presidential commentary tomorrow. See you then.

Mountain

Friday, March 28th, 2008


Here’s the view from across the street from our campsite last week. Very pretty view.

Took the train today, which turned out to be a good idea. It was just starting to rain as I got aboard. I can’t prove it, of course, but I’m guessing the traffic was pretty bad. At any rate, the ride was comfortable and the Friday ridership was light, as always.

Loyal Readers Numbers One and Two are camping in the snow tonight. Lots of camping going on. We’ll see them some time tomorrow. Our young Friend Matt is over for the night. He’s getting used to being away from home in preparation for an upcoming trip to band camp or something. We hope all goes well for him tonight.

Otherwise, situation normal. See you on Monday.

Calaveras road

Thursday, March 27th, 2008


Here’s a pretty little road in our campground from last fall’s visit to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Yes, I know I ought to be featuring photos from last week’s trip, but some things only get better with age. So my Loyal Readers will just have to wait.

No time to blog yet again. I spent time hanging out with Loyal Reader Number Four while she made girls’ camp-related phone calls instead. Priorities.

Average day. I’ve been having a hard time getting my daily constitutional lately – too busy at lunchtime. I do manage, however, to eat. Priorities.

Weekend plans are shaping up. Loyal Readers Numbers Five and Twelve are coming over on Saturday, to which I am looking forward. Loyal Readers Numbers One and Two are going snow camping on Friday night, to which I presume they are looking forward. And I’m planning to do a little weed killing on the lawn. That’s enough for one weekend – don’t wait to raise expectations unrealistically.

Saw a television show on the Travel Channel about the ten best beaches in Florida. They completely failed to mention Cocoa Beach, to which I am partial. LRN4 mentioned that that may be a good thing – keeps the huge crowds away, which is something I like very much about Cocoa Beach.

Time for bed. See you tomorrow.

Beach

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008


Here’s the beach at Andrew Molera State Park in Big Sur. It was a perfect day. Every day last week was a perfect day. Very perfect.

Stayed home sick today. The gut has been in pretty bad shape since Monday. I think it was worth it – feeling much better tonight.

Therefore, there’s nothing new. Oh, there is the case of Loyal Pet Number Two. She had a partial shed the other day and seems to be having trouble getting the rest of her skin off. Loyal Readers Numbers Two and Four just put her in a pillowcase full of wet newspaper for the night. The snake book says that ought to do the trick. We’ll see.

About last week’s campout. It was fun. We had the same site as last year – good old number 95. It was just as pretty as last year, if just a little bit cooler. Of course we went in mid-March this year versus early April last year. The campground was a little more crowded this year too, with several spring-breakers. They were generally well-behaved, fortunately, and they didn’t offer any competition for the showers, fortunately (although I wouldn’t want to stand downwind from any of them).

And I guess I might as well hit the hay. See you tomorrow.

Pig riders

Tuesday, March 25th, 2008


Here are Loyal Readers Numbers One and Two, mounted on their mighty steeds. Picture taken on the carousel at Great America, of course.

Short shrift. My Tuesday night meeting went way long. We had some good discussion, but it’s late.

Got up, got ready, commuted, worked, commuted, ate, went to my meeting, met, came home, updated my iPod for tomorrow’s commute, and blogged.

I dropped the Daily Giz Wiz from my podcast rotation. I’ve enjoyed it in the past, but I’ve gotten absolutely sick of Leo Laporte, who can’t leave his nutty political/religious beliefs alone long enough to entertain. Shut up and sing already, Leo. He can’t, so I quit. Too bad. The only TWiT show I listen to anymore is Security Now. I don’t think Steve Gibson shares Leo’s nutty beliefs, so I’m hoping they’ll continue to stick to the podcast’s topic. Otherwise, I can live without them at least as easily as they can live without me.

Oh, I’m also still subscribed to Munchcast. However, it’s only on its twenty-fifth episode and it’s quickly getting tiresome, so I don’t have high hopes for keeping it in the rotation either.

I’m not sure whether Leo has gotten worse or the competition has gotten better, but he’s dropping off my radar. I used to listen to absolutely everything he made. I’ve also dropped nearly every other podcast made by the other former TechTV alumni. Kevin Rose is vulgar and unfunny, so he was dropped very quickly. I’ve enjoyed Patrick Norton in the past and I still subscribe to Systm, featuring Patrick and Dave Randolph, which has morphed from a “hacker” show to a pleasant little do-it-yourself electronics show. That’s pretty much it from the old group I used to enjoy so much.

I’m now listening to Cruise Control Radio, BYU Recent Talks, the Get-It-Done Guy‘s Quick and Dirty Tips to Work Less and Do More, Instapundit, Munchcast, My Trivia Podcast, Car Talk, Pod Rods, Road & Track’s Speed Radio, Science @ NASA, Sean Hannity, and Security Now. Plus a bunch of video podcasts for the train, which I’ll list Real Soon Now. As my Loyal Readers know, I have a long drive/ride and need a lot of content.

Time for bed. See you tomorrow.