morrowlife

Here are Loyal Readers Numbers One and Two posing as bobbleheads. Taken at Jellystone Park during a camping trip in Virginia long, long ago. Part of my famous Camping series.

That picture was in honor of LRN1’s 18th birthday. Happy birthday, LRN1! You haven’t changed a bit. You can now vote. Use this superpower wisely.

Worked like a dog. And not like Loyal Pet Number One, either. I prefer it the other way.

Thanks for the many thoughtful comments yesterday. I’ve decided to use the Mighty Putty to tow just the Suburban, but to do it uphill, and with the transmission in Park. Now there’s a challenge for you.

Maybe I should try it on somebody else‘s car first, though.

I’ve found the perfect job for any college-student Loyal Readers who aren’t able to get a great Apple gig next summer: Monkey Man! (Link warning: strange news report with sound.) We could use one on the ACE train.

Time for other things. See you tomorrow.

Here are some of the intrepid canoeists from this summer’s scout trip, participated in by Loyal Readers Numbers One and Two, and supported by Loyal Reader Number Four and me. Part of my famous Camping series.

Greetings from the train. Drove the Ranger back to Sunnyvale this morning – traffic was extremely heavy, not to mention slow. Friday afternoons and Monday mornings are not good commuting times. Sadly, when the pickup has to go home, that’s when it has to be on the road. No matter how crowded the train gets, it has really become my preferred transit mode.

Which is a good thing. After today’s trip, I still have fourteen paid-for round trips as well as a transit check for another ten days. That will take me partway into November, by which time I’ll have received transit checks in the mail for ten trips in October and ten more in November. Those will take me well into December, by which time I’ll have received ten more trips, which will take me into January, by which time I’ll have ten more rides, which ought to take me into late January before I need to actually pay for a ticket with after-tax dollars.

Anyway. How boring. Must . . . come . . . up . . . with . . . better . . . content.

The weekend was fine. It was really hot and clear both days. Loyal Readers Numbers Five, Six, and Twelve came over for the weekend, as predicted Friday, which was nice. LRN12 looks like she’s coming down with a cold, and it made her just a tiny bit grumpy – didn’t sleep well and wouldn’t go to church with us. Get well soon, LRN12!

LRN6 spent his entire Saturday helping LRN2 and me detail the exterior of the Ranger. It started the day out with hazy paint and filthy wheels with years’ worth of cooked-on brake dust. It now has beautiful, shiny black paint and perfect, shiny chrome wheels. Great work, LRN6! And thanks for a great, relaxing day. Although it was a bit warm.

After the detailing work was done, LRN6 and I jacuzzified for an hour or so. I got in the pool briefly. It was pretty cool, but would have been swimmable if I had really wanted to stay in. But I didn’t. Got back in the jacuzzi instead.

Loyal Reader Number Four spent all day Saturday at a training session for Science Olympiad coaches, of which she is one.

I was greatly saddened this afternoon to learn of the sudden, unexpected death of my friend John Reddoch. Apparently, he died last night in his sleep. If you have to go, that’s the way to do it, but it was way too early for John. My sincerest condolences to his wife and family.

LRN4 told me we had a brief rain shower in Lardville today. Freak occurrence in September around here. Fortunately, nobody appears to have been harmed by this terrible natural disaster.

Maybe we should start naming rainstorms that happen here in the summer. That might give them that highly desirable hurricane/cyclone/tropical storm cachet. Maybe I’ll call today’s shower Rainstorm Achilles. What do you think?

Today’s Morrowlife controversy: No controversy today. Nothing happened.

See you tomorrow.

Here’s a river. With lots of rocks. Taken during our August camping trip at Clark’s Fork. Fear not, Loyal Readers – I’m just about out of Great Art from that trip. Part of my famous Camping series.

Extreme Short Shrift yet again tonight. Home Evening is over, I have to get up as early as usual, and I have a long drive tomorrow morning, followed by a long meeting, both of which I need to stay awake for. As (probably) mentioned previously, I’m heading for Edwards Air Force Base tomorrow morning for a day-and-a-half-long meeting. I’ve been planning to take the Honda, but I’ve started wondering whether I might enjoy the Miata instead. Assuming it can make it that far, of course, but I have no reason to believe it won’t. It wouldn’t be as comfortable, but it does have air conditioning and cruise control, and the weather is supposed to be quite nice down there right now – ideal for open-air motoring.

Blogging will continue as usual, although Wednesday night is iffy, as I’ll be returning home from the meeting and may not arrive until pretty late, depending on when we finish. Time will tell.

Loyal Reader Number Two is still scheduled to have his tonsils yanked on Thursday. We won’t know the exact surgery time until sometime Wednesday, though, when he visits his anesthesiologist. I’ll be at the hospital, of course. Keep those Morrowlife sympathy rays coming, Loyal Readers, and he’ll get through it.

Got several of the planned weekend activities done, although not much on Saturday. Friday was work day and Saturday was goof off day. I did get some programming done, though. The Sudoku program draws its user interface on the screen and can now load a puzzle from its memo list. Lots more to do.

Sunday was restful.

Tragedy! The exclusive RAZR-cam is no more. Well, actually, it’s the RAZR-phone that’s not exactly working. The camera’s fine. In addition to its dead vibrator (which I was just living with in a grumpy sort of way), the speaker portion of its handset has given its last full measure of devotion. I can still use the speaker phone and Bluetooth, but can’t hear anything when I hold it to my head. And I don’t think it’s my ear that’s defective.

I gave it a thorough inspection and declared it dead. Spent several hours last night trying to decide on a replacement, and with Loyal Reader Number Four’s encouragement, I finally decided to order a Palm Treo 680, which I accomplished this afternoon. It ought to be here in a week or so. Loyal Reader Number One has really enjoyed his, and I’ve liked all my Palms so far. So I have high hopes. Plus, here‘s an excellent Christmas gift-giving idea! Also, since some of my software development interest is in the Palm direction, it will be good to have a newer model.

Many thanks to LRN1 for his extra-special high-intensity Miata sympathy rays, which were evident in his earlier comment, as he pointed out on Friday. The Miata thanks you also.

And thanks to many other Loyal Readers for their suggestions for additional significant GM cars. How could those fools have missed such important milestones?

See you tomorrow.

Here’s a nice bridge over a secluded mountain stream at Clark’s Fork. And it’s covered with graffiti. Sigh. I’m with that guy a few years back who caught a teenager spraying graffiti in the middle of the night, took away his paint, and sprayed his face. Of course, the guy got in pretty serious trouble, but it might have been worth it. Part of my famous Camping series. The picture, that is, not the graffiti vigilante.

Extreme Short Shrift tonight. I’ve been doing other things, and it’s already after 10:00. Besides, after yesterday’s Special Bonus Post (thanks for noticing, Anon!), I think we can all agree that I’m way ahead of the game at this point.

Okay day at work. I found out last night that I didn’t get the appointment as acting manager as I had hoped. However, the person they gave it to is an okay guy who isn’t leaving his old job and therefore really won’t be able to do the job. So I’ll be doing it anyway. Just without the title. As usual.

Comfortable commutes in both directions. I’m at home tomorrow, meaning I’ll only have to attend my morning meetings via teleconference. In my spare time, I hope to replace the Miata’s battery (assuming I can find the special battery it needs, and if not, I’ll at least get the new one ordered), pick up the repaired weed whacker, clean the pool and pond filters, shorten the lawn watering time to its fall-appropriate level, and work on some personal programming. There’s plenty to do.

That’s it for tonight. See you tomorrow, with a report on my many off-Friday activities.

Here’s a pretty little lake up in the mountains near — you guessed it — Clark’s Fork. Part of my famous Camping series.

Greetings from the conference room! Drove to work today. As mentioned earlier (yesterday?), there’s a Team Dinner tonight that precludes my use of mass transit. Since there’s no train-based post possible, I’m meeting-room blogging today in the hope of not disappointing my distraught Loyal Readers.

We had some discussion this morning on Lessons Learned. The group pretty much decided that term is overused and carries connotations we weren’t anxious to imply. We needed another name. I suggested “Incidents and Accidents.” I believe the term comes from an old Paul Simon song, although for the life of me I can’t remember which one. A little help, Loyal Readers?

Nobody liked my idea.

By the way, did anybody ever come up with Loyal Reader Number Five’s movie quote from the other day? Was the promised money delivered?

Slight disaster early this morning. I decided to drive the Miata – it’s a perfect day for open-air motoring. Got my briefcase into the Miata’s trunk, got myself into the Miata’s seat, got my iPod plugged into the Miata’s stereo and playing music, and turned the key. Nothing happened.

Well, that’s not entirely true. One thing did happen. The electrical system went utterly and completely dead. Not just regularly dead, no. Automotive death was utter and complete.

I suspect it’s the battery. We’ll find out for sure on Friday, which is my Really Off Friday.

Otherwise, all is well. See you tomorrow.