The Blog - revisited

I just about forgot I had this thing.

I was cruising the "Internets" and ran across Galoot's name on the Ubuntu Forums. I thought, "Hmmm, same Galoot?" Maybe yes, maybe no... But I still have one of these things.

I read Galoot's blog and see he has updated about the same as I have. LOL Then I read the funniest blog post ever. (Dr. Doodoolittle)

Sitting on my arse, watching the TV with CynLynn, laptop on lap. (running Ubuntu Lucid, BTW)

The "other" Side

After almost 23 years of being a registered Republican, I changed party affiliation.

I'm now a proud member of the Democratic Party.

Yay!

Holy Crap! 2008?!

Good Lord!

It has been a year and a half since I blogged.

Blogspot was taken over by Google? What?

Had to dig through the cob webs in my mind to remember my gmail password.

Anyway...

My company was bought again.

Things are getting better. Pay is OK and we get quarterly bonuses.

The love of my life, my Darlin' Cyn, is sitting by my side.

It's New Year's Eve 2007. We're staying in.

Happy New Year!

Here's to a Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year.

"Independence Day 2006"

Happy 230th Birthday USA!

The theme in the neighborhood tonight is:

"Happy 4th of July! Let's blow shit up to celebrate our independence!"

Jesus, something really big just blew up overhead...

The Anger of Money and the All-important and Hypocritical "Me."

This place where we live is a tapestry of contradictions. There are poor Latinos spread everywhere. This is a very Right-of-Center place. Hell, it's Right-of-Right. A lot of money is made and spent here.

Just up the street is TBN's palatial Tower of Babel. Make it big, white and gilded and you get closer to God, right? A little further is a Mall that would blow your mind. Not as ritzy as Rodeo Drive, but getting there.

The motto of this place should be, "Orange County, It's All about ME!" People park, drive and walk like they are the only beings in the universe. Millions on crowded streets, yakking on their cell phones at an inappropriate volume. What makes them think I want to hear about what Summer or Buffy did at the dinner last night? Why do I care that Ken knows everything about business deals and is going to make a big buy tomorrow? Is he doing that for my benefit? I'm not impressed.

They drive like assholes with their crosses and fish placards plastered all over their Hummers or Tahoes. The Jag that just cut me off has a bumper sticker that states, "No Jesus, No Peace... Know Jesus, Know Peace."

The closed-minded masses are reproducing in mind-numbing numbers. As José cuts their grass and Maria cleans at their beige cookie-cutter McMansion, they kvetch about the illegal alien problem.

Take another pill. The TV says so.

It's all about me. How sad. I mentally scream, "It ISN'T! Stupid!!!"

This place where we live is safe. The worst crime on our block recently was a fight down the street at the Asian club.

I love and hate this place. It has no charm unless you look really deep. This is where I grew up... well, about 20 miles from here.

This apartment is too small. It's too small for one person, let alone two of us. We hear the people on one side arguing through the wall, smell the funky odors of the downstairs neighbors' cooking, and hear every time the guy on the other side takes a piss. People don't bother to walk up to another and talk, they yell across the complex. Once again, why do I care what you're having for dinner or what your brat did? I work my ass off and can't get out. We're stuck here for a little longer. The place where I grew up doesn't exist anymore.

Take another pill.

Our apartment manager was unceremoniously terminated to go to rehab. Rehab for what? I don't know. I'm sure it was for speed or something like that. Never saw her drunk. We loved her too! One of the best apartment managers I've ever had. I hope she does OK. (I wonder if they'll take the fish and dove stickers off the Manager's apartment?)

Hypocrites. Wave your damned finger at me at why I should or shouldn't think a certain way, why I should or shouldn't do certain things.

Don't get me wrong. I was born a Catholic and raised a Protestant. I have a strong belief in God. I have an extreme distaste for The Church. Man's interpretation of man's interpretation, of man's interpretation... Something was lost in the translation and these people are buying it en masse. Where did it all go so terribly wrong? The Earth is Flat. The sun, moon and stars revolve around us. We are the only solar system. Only we have water. Only we have/had life. We are holy, chosen, unique.

Take another pill, the TV says so.

The Amendments are falling one by one.

What ever happened to news? Infotainment is what's glowing on our screens and blasting from our radios. Keep 'em scared, they'll do what we want.

Take another pill, the TV says so.

"Nukes for Mangos"

Yeah, you heard it. Our government has decided to trade nukes for Indian mangos.

Fucking mangos!

"...the United States is looking forward to eating Indian mangos." - G.W. Bush

I am not kidding. You can't make this stuff up!

And this should tell ya a lot:

"Now Playing"

"Brain Damage" - Pink Floyd

I feel better.

"Spent"

I really love what I do.

But...

(did ya see that coming?)

We haven't had a vacation since July.

I did get a tiny raise in salary last month, but it's not enough.

Rodger and I are picking up the slack for Bumblefuck II (and Bumblefuck III in San Diego, but that's a story for a different time).

I have more responsibility than ever. I'm doing more work, more research and just more crap in general. I'm still pretty much getting paid the same and getting the same respect (none) from the powers that be. I can kiss ass when I need to, but I'm not a kissass.

I'm tired... spent.

The boss and his boss are going to be in town next week.

I wish I could meet with them. I took tomorrow off and I'll be out in the field on Tuesday and Wednesday.

They're leaving Thursday morning.

It's probably a good thing; I might speak my mind. I (still) need this job. ;-)

"Where the Fuck is Buttonwillow?"

I drove up to Northern California in November to help our office out up there.

Well, more like I was helping our tech out. His dad died and he was out of town.

Cyn didn't wan't to go with me this time. Probably a good thing. It rained a lot while I was up there. I had the car. She would have been stuck in the Best Western room all day, by herself.

I stayed in Concord, California. Concord is about 420 miles (676 km) from here and about 30 miles (48 km) north east of San Fancisco.

About 275 miles (443 km) of that drive is on I-5 through the Great Basin, California's bread basket.

Having been born and raised in the cement jungle, I'm amazed at the lack of "stuff" in our Heartland.

It's very refreshing.

Not all of California is covered in asphalt and cement!

Anyway, there are a lot of little towns along the way. Two of them always stick out when I make that drive. One is Firebaugh, the other is Buttonwillow.

Every single time I drive by Buttonwillow, I think of a bumpersticker that reads, "Where the fuck is Buttonwillow?!"

It just strikes me as funny.

Oh, Buttonwillow is HERE