Another strike against our own terrorists:
U.S. Barred From Sending 13 Detainees Abroad
30 March 2005
Condolences & Love
To Wil Wheaton and his family on the loss of Felix.
My wife I have had many cats - and now dogs - come to live with us and share the joys of their lives over the years, and somehow it is never any easier when one of them dies and moves on.
Hang in there, Wil.
My wife I have had many cats - and now dogs - come to live with us and share the joys of their lives over the years, and somehow it is never any easier when one of them dies and moves on.
Hang in there, Wil.
24 March 2005
Happy light
I just mounted my new Eclipse workstation Light, but am having a little trouble with the adjustment.
According to the instructions, I should adjust the reflective visor so that a pleasing ray of light falls over (my) work surface.
I'm not sure just how pleasing it's supposed to be, though... .
According to the instructions, I should adjust the reflective visor so that a pleasing ray of light falls over (my) work surface.
I'm not sure just how pleasing it's supposed to be, though... .
21 March 2005
Warmth!
Yes! My office is nice and toasty this morning, thanks to the maintenance guys who took half the wall apart last Friday to figure why the heat wasn't working, and then got it working.
One thing we didn't take into account when designing my new desk is that it blocks access to the heater, & they're supposed to change those filters every three months! DOH!
I think, though, that if I take the back privacy panel off of that section of the desk that they can access it without my having to take the entire back half of the desk apart every time.
One thing we didn't take into account when designing my new desk is that it blocks access to the heater, & they're supposed to change those filters every three months! DOH!
I think, though, that if I take the back privacy panel off of that section of the desk that they can access it without my having to take the entire back half of the desk apart every time.
20 March 2005
And this, too, shall pass
It looks like BlackJack may be back to his old self. I gave him some of the cats' hairball remedy, & he was a little perkier after napping.
We took both boys for a walk to the park & while we were out, he passed something pretty nasty! And, yes, we're good doggy parents so we, & by we I mean I, cleaned it up.
He'll have dinner soon & I'll see how he does after that!
We met two dogs who came down the back side of their property to the fence, and they both appear to have had their vocal cords either removed or at least operated on so that they couldn't bark. I have heard of that being done to serious guard dogs so that they could sneak up on people, but I don't think that I've ever actually met a dog whose bark was just a whisper. Definitely a little weird, especially since they both were like that!
The boys found a deer (fawn) carcass, too -- yum -- but we managed to keep them off of it! I don't think that it had been poached, as it was fairly intact.
I'm sure that the vultures will do a good job with it, but I may call the county tomorrow in case they want to remove it.
We took both boys for a walk to the park & while we were out, he passed something pretty nasty! And, yes, we're good doggy parents so we, & by we I mean I, cleaned it up.
He'll have dinner soon & I'll see how he does after that!
We met two dogs who came down the back side of their property to the fence, and they both appear to have had their vocal cords either removed or at least operated on so that they couldn't bark. I have heard of that being done to serious guard dogs so that they could sneak up on people, but I don't think that I've ever actually met a dog whose bark was just a whisper. Definitely a little weird, especially since they both were like that!
The boys found a deer (fawn) carcass, too -- yum -- but we managed to keep them off of it! I don't think that it had been poached, as it was fairly intact.
I'm sure that the vultures will do a good job with it, but I may call the county tomorrow in case they want to remove it.
Only part lab, but just as dense
He may only be ¼ lab, but BlackJack will still eat anything!
And this time,unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be able to get rid of it on his own :-(
He ate slowly this morning — which never happens — and then got sick almost immediately after, which is never a good sign.
We've given him two doses of an ipecac-type solution, which did make him throw up more, but no luck as yet with whatever is blocking his stomach.
We'll call the vet in the next couple of hours if he hasn't been able to take care of it, & go get him x-rayed to see what's in there.
The first time it ever happened, it was a fur covered cat toy mouse, but he was a much smaller puppy then. It's happened at least one other time, & that turned out to be a piece of a bone that he & Rudy had been working on.
I just hate to see him so miserable... .
And this time,unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be able to get rid of it on his own :-(
He ate slowly this morning — which never happens — and then got sick almost immediately after, which is never a good sign.
We've given him two doses of an ipecac-type solution, which did make him throw up more, but no luck as yet with whatever is blocking his stomach.
We'll call the vet in the next couple of hours if he hasn't been able to take care of it, & go get him x-rayed to see what's in there.
The first time it ever happened, it was a fur covered cat toy mouse, but he was a much smaller puppy then. It's happened at least one other time, & that turned out to be a piece of a bone that he & Rudy had been working on.
I just hate to see him so miserable... .
19 March 2005
Well..
Of course, once I had pretty much decided to cancel the weekend class, I had more students than ever show up today(6). Maybe not a huge number, but if people are coming, they must be getting something from the class, right?
The weather is warming up, though, so now I'm thinking that we can move back outside again... . That would (hopefully) make it possible to take the boys with us on Saturday morning & tie them out on a tree while we have class, & then take them for a nice walk after. And the farmers' market will be starting up again soon, too, & they enjoy going there with us.
They are so much better behaved at home, too, when they get exercised regularly. Just like people!
I'll just have to figure it out, I suppose.
The weather is warming up, though, so now I'm thinking that we can move back outside again... . That would (hopefully) make it possible to take the boys with us on Saturday morning & tie them out on a tree while we have class, & then take them for a nice walk after. And the farmers' market will be starting up again soon, too, & they enjoy going there with us.
They are so much better behaved at home, too, when they get exercised regularly. Just like people!
I'll just have to figure it out, I suppose.
Decisions
I'm thinking about cancelling our Saturday Aikido classes, at least for a while.
J. & I are very busy now, & one or both of us are out of the house four evenings a week as it is.
A number of things aren't getting the attention they need.
My move to the new office doesn't help any, either, since I'm too far from the house to come home & run the dogs at lunch like I could before we moved.
Not having that little escape at lunch is making me more tired in the evenings, too. I didn't realize how good it had been for my stress levels!
Unfortunately, one of the things that isn't getting the attention that it needs is J., but now that the animals are all fed I'm going back to bed to take care of that!
J. & I are very busy now, & one or both of us are out of the house four evenings a week as it is.
A number of things aren't getting the attention they need.
My move to the new office doesn't help any, either, since I'm too far from the house to come home & run the dogs at lunch like I could before we moved.
Not having that little escape at lunch is making me more tired in the evenings, too. I didn't realize how good it had been for my stress levels!
Unfortunately, one of the things that isn't getting the attention that it needs is J., but now that the animals are all fed I'm going back to bed to take care of that!
15 March 2005
Geek-wa des
The wife & I started a conversational Japanese class last night, & look forward to being able to speak a little more by the time Tanaka Shihan arrives from Japan this summer.
It should be fun practicing with each other, & inflicting it on my aikido students for the next few weeks!
It should be fun practicing with each other, & inflicting it on my aikido students for the next few weeks!
14 March 2005
Another neat map tool?
Going on a trip? Like Chick-Fil-A?
Try their trip planner. Windows only, sorry.
I found this link today when my father called from his huge rental car and asked me to find a Chick-Fil-A for him near Statesville.
He's a fan of their food, & can't get it where he lives in California. The last time he was out on this coast, he actually bought a suitcase full of cooked, flash frozen fillets from the local restaurant and took them home with him. Did I mention that he (and many other members of our gene pool) can be a little weird?
Try their trip planner. Windows only, sorry.
I found this link today when my father called from his huge rental car and asked me to find a Chick-Fil-A for him near Statesville.
He's a fan of their food, & can't get it where he lives in California. The last time he was out on this coast, he actually bought a suitcase full of cooked, flash frozen fillets from the local restaurant and took them home with him. Did I mention that he (and many other members of our gene pool) can be a little weird?
13 March 2005
Well, well
We though it couldn't be done. But it was.
My wife actually managed to surprise me for my birthday — we won't say which one (birthday, not wife).
I have to admit that I thought something might be up as I was getting ready to go out to dinner at one of our favorite places, but let it go.
It turned out that the reservations were for four, which was pretty much a dead giveaway that she had invited someone else, but she wouldn't tell me who.
When said guests were already twenty minutes late I started to suspect that it might be someone related to me (that is genetic, though I've tried my best to overcome it in my lifetime).
And I have to admit that I was genuinely surprised when my father & his brother came through the door; a good surprise since Dad lives 3000 miles away. Now, my uncle only lives forty miles away, but Dad did need a place to stay while he's in town, so that makes sense.
I felt a little sorry for the waiter, a senior at Virginia Tech. Between my father & his brother & the way they carry on, I thought they'd cause the poor guy to have an aneurism, or worse. When my uncle — who will gladly tell anyone about how he put himself through college waiting tables — ordered a martini, and said,"... and no olive; if it gets near olive, I'll kill you", said waiter chuckled nervously and sped off to get drinks — probably stopping for one himself.
He returned, & when the martini was just about five inches above the table, he, my uncle, and myself all saw the evil green orb on a stick in the glass!
My uncle, who is a fairly burly guy for his age, practically roared,"What the hell is that?", and sent the waiter scurrying again for a fresh martini.
He certainly earned his tip, though, and when the kitchen ran out of raspberry sauce for two of the desserts that we ordered, he had them taken off the bill. A safe precaution on his part, to be sure, to ensure that he would live to see his graduation this spring.
Thanks, sweet; I love you!
My wife actually managed to surprise me for my birthday — we won't say which one (birthday, not wife).
I have to admit that I thought something might be up as I was getting ready to go out to dinner at one of our favorite places, but let it go.
It turned out that the reservations were for four, which was pretty much a dead giveaway that she had invited someone else, but she wouldn't tell me who.
When said guests were already twenty minutes late I started to suspect that it might be someone related to me (that is genetic, though I've tried my best to overcome it in my lifetime).
And I have to admit that I was genuinely surprised when my father & his brother came through the door; a good surprise since Dad lives 3000 miles away. Now, my uncle only lives forty miles away, but Dad did need a place to stay while he's in town, so that makes sense.
I felt a little sorry for the waiter, a senior at Virginia Tech. Between my father & his brother & the way they carry on, I thought they'd cause the poor guy to have an aneurism, or worse. When my uncle — who will gladly tell anyone about how he put himself through college waiting tables — ordered a martini, and said,"... and no olive; if it gets near olive, I'll kill you", said waiter chuckled nervously and sped off to get drinks — probably stopping for one himself.
He returned, & when the martini was just about five inches above the table, he, my uncle, and myself all saw the evil green orb on a stick in the glass!
My uncle, who is a fairly burly guy for his age, practically roared,"What the hell is that?", and sent the waiter scurrying again for a fresh martini.
He certainly earned his tip, though, and when the kitchen ran out of raspberry sauce for two of the desserts that we ordered, he had them taken off the bill. A safe precaution on his part, to be sure, to ensure that he would live to see his graduation this spring.
Thanks, sweet; I love you!
10 March 2005
Oh, the Humanity!
When I see this headline, I picture the evil giants with large nets, casting them over the japanese roads to trap motorists and eat them... .
But I'm sure that Godzilla will rise from the foamy sea to save Tokyo again!
But I'm sure that Godzilla will rise from the foamy sea to save Tokyo again!
07 March 2005
Guard dogs
BlackJack displayed some behaviour this weekend that I don't think I've really noticed before.
The wife & I had the he & Rudy out for a walk & anytime a male who didn't have a dog got within 20 feet of us, BlackJack would go off on him.
It occurred to me that he didn't do that anytime recently when I had them out by myself. And he was fine when we were approached by couples, or by people with dogs. It seemed to only be lone men that he wanted to keep away from his mom!
It's nice to know that he's going to do the job of protecting her if she needs it – and I know from experience just how well he can get those teeth through the skin and let you know what he's thinkin'!
The wife & I had the he & Rudy out for a walk & anytime a male who didn't have a dog got within 20 feet of us, BlackJack would go off on him.
It occurred to me that he didn't do that anytime recently when I had them out by myself. And he was fine when we were approached by couples, or by people with dogs. It seemed to only be lone men that he wanted to keep away from his mom!
It's nice to know that he's going to do the job of protecting her if she needs it – and I know from experience just how well he can get those teeth through the skin and let you know what he's thinkin'!
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