| Gay Marriage |
[May. 16th, 2008|07:14 am] |
California: Congratulations, you've finally recognized someone's constitutional right. Good for you.
New York, now it's your turn.
I wont be holding my breath. |
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| Save the Zoo |
[May. 10th, 2008|07:06 am] |
Monroe County is looking for ways to balance its budget, and one of the proposed solutions is to cut county funding to the zoo. Please take the (short) survey and tell them to find their money somewhere else.
Monroe County Budget Survey |
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[Apr. 15th, 2008|07:27 pm] |
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My sister works at Starbucks. |
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[Sep. 11th, 2007|07:38 am] |
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Six years ago today, 2974 died between the wtc attacks and the Washington & Pennsylvania disasters. The U.S. response to 9/11 has since caused 3723 American deaths. How many more people have to die before someone realizes why this is wrong? |
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| History Repeating |
[Apr. 17th, 2007|07:31 pm] |
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It's incredibly sad to see what happened at Virginia Tech, although it's not all that surprising. For years I have been mumbling to myself about added security and wondering why people seem to forget so easily. Maybe I just retain dates better than most people. It started back on April 19th, 1993, with the horrible end of the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, TX. 79 people died. Then on April 19th, 1995 the Oklahoma City Federal Building was destroyed, killing 168 people. Then, on April 20th, 1999, two horribly messed up kids in trench coats killed 13 fellow students and teachers. Some people have suggested the violence that occurs during this particular week of the year is in tribute to Hitler, who was born April 20th, 1889 and as we all know killed millions of people throughout Europe. Whatever the motivation, I'd hate for another year to go by, maybe two, maybe more, just long enough to push these events to the back of our minds again, only to experience another mid-April massacre. |
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| Scam Warning |
[Feb. 20th, 2007|07:52 am] |
Last night I was looking over our joint bank account when I spotted something like this:
CHECKCARD CIC*CE CREDIT REP
8003888725 CA ON 02/15 | $9.95 |
Laura and I both had no idea what this was, so I went into our banking history and I found 3 more transactions like this, once per month between the 15th and 20th, since November. wtf??? Laura had the idea to call that 800 number to find out what the deal was. btw, if you search that number in google you will pull up a few scam alerts. Not cool. So she calls, and reaches someone at a credit "protection" business. She asks why we're being billed by a company we've never heard of and the person on the other line says "I don't know, let me have your social security number and bank account and I can help you." I love my wife. I would not be suprised if that person quit their job after speaking with her. Any way, we got nowhere with them over the phone, so the next step is to talk to our bank and figure out how to get our $40 back and stop the automatic monthly withdrawl from our account. What I don't understand is don't you have to sign something or do some sort of authorization to set up a bank account withdrawl like that? It can't be that easy to just take money out of someone's account, can it? Moral of the story: check your accounts! I'm sorry we let it go for this long. |
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| School |
[Jan. 23rd, 2007|07:14 am] |
Classes officially started yesterday at MCC. I had my drawing class, which was interesting and I imagine I will have fun with it. I somehow managed to show up late for my first class. I forgot about rush hour traffic. Lame. My online classes started as well, though English is still stuck in "orientation" mode and no content was added. That could be a good or bad thing. No new work was waiting for me in Math because I forgot to send my instructor a private message telling her I had finished my quizzes last week. Oops. Now I must find time to do all the work this week. Goodbye Saturday!
Did I mention I am the proud owner of some $200 worth of art supplies?
Laura sent our second-hand laptop in for a repair. If they can fix it life will automatically become 12 times easier. I can do my classwork on the couch. Emilia will not miss me. Emilia will get her room back.
Today is the last day hopefully for a while that I will have to drive far out of my way for work. I like the house we've been working on, but I grew tired of seeing it weeks ago. Also, not getting paid mileage or getting comped for the time lost due to travelling there reduces my effective pay rate by a decent amount. This is why I am educating myself. One day I will be very happy with my career. One day I will have a career. |
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| My extra-long weekend is over, how sad for me. |
[Nov. 26th, 2006|10:46 pm] |
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Today was a fantastic day. I got to spend all of it with Emilia, Laura came home early, there was a Monk marathon all day long, we got our Christmas tree, and when Emilia was playing with some wooden train ornaments she said "choo-choo"!!! I will be just a little sad going back to work. |
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| Election Day |
[Nov. 7th, 2006|10:38 pm] |
For once, people I voted for actually won.
Emilia, once again, was the hit of the polling place. I think she left today with 9 "I Voted Today" stickers. I only got one. |
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| Weekend? What weekend? |
[Oct. 30th, 2006|08:07 am] |
Sometimes the two days between Friday and Monday gel together into this gooey lump of time that really doesn't resemble a "weekend" but more of a chaotic orgy of events that somehow took precedence over what I really should've been doing. I worked Saturday, because I wasn't out of town or at a wedding. In the evening Laura and I took Emilia to Medley Center for a Halloween event that wasn't what we thought it was going to be. It was interesting, it was fun, but it was also a zoo and you had to pay to get into many key attractions. Emilia got to dress up in her costume and I'm pretty sure she had fun.
Sunday was interesting. It started out with our usual daddy/daughter time in the morning. In the afternoon I got to earn a little extra money by doing some electrical work for some friends. They overpaid me but my protests were in vain. Plus I get to go back and do some more work later in the week.
Today I'm doing something I thought I'd never do. I'm going to call MCC's adult department and make an appointment to talk to someone about going back to school, or rather going to school and staying there. It's something that's been on my mind a lot in recent months. I'll make an appointment, explore my options and see what happenss. I just don't want to feel like I'm wasting my brain anymore. |
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| My sister |
[Sep. 18th, 2006|08:18 am] |
Last night we had our last hurrah dinner with my sister and a bunch of family and "almost-family" types. It was about 9-12 people at Pizza Cafe in Henrietta. Fun while Emilia lasted. She was a ham for a while, and then the lateness spoiled it for her. The event was a little sad because my sister was in town for 6 weeks and we saw her all of 3 times: once at her "I'm back" party, once at Emilia's birthday, and last night. I would've thought Emilia would've motivated her more to spend a little more time with us. Oh well. She's on her plane right now back to Vegas.
Jason got a new car, which means he needs a place for his old car for a couple weeks, which was just the right amount of inspiration I needed to get a spot cleared in the garage for him, with his help, of course. There is much satisfaction to be had in a cleaning project of that magnitude. In short: we have a lot of shit lying around that needs to leave asap. Once again, craigslist to the rescue. Lets hope it works. |
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| This stuff is wow |
[Aug. 14th, 2006|09:48 pm] |
I want at least half of his creations. This guy stopped into work today. Here's his link.
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| It's that special time of year |
[Aug. 5th, 2006|08:47 am] |
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Park Ave fest, here we come! |
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| Happy Birthday Emilia!!! |
[Aug. 1st, 2006|06:56 am] |
Emilia is officially 1 year old today! Woo!
It feels like we just left the hospital. |
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| Strapped for cash / Fidel |
[Jul. 29th, 2006|04:10 pm] |
Wow. City taxes + (suprise!) Monroe County taxes + mortgage all in the same week = we broke. Not to mention a few other expenses, some regular and some not. This has to be the most expensive week in forever.
We were somewhat prepared for city taxes, plus the mortgage which is monthly and thus we prepare for all month, but Monroe County can kiss my ass. We got our final notice to pay our whole tax bill a week in advance! No 1st notice, no 2nd notice, just a final one before a lien was to be put on our house and our names in the paper as delinquent tax-nonpayers. So where did our 1st notice end up? All evidence suggests it was forwarded to the previous owner's mailbox. Of course the county was not willing to help us out.
And then there is Fidel, who is no longer with us. I would rather not go into the details of his last days with us, I will only say that we miss him, and I'm sorry he had to spend 8 months in a nasty basement.
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| My Sister |
[Jul. 27th, 2006|08:22 am] |
My sister is back in Rochester after having her flight delayed 2 days. How does that happen??? Tuesday night we had a 'coming home' party for her over at my mother's house. It was the first time we had been there in almost exactly a year, which is a little sad. Yes, my sister is doing well. Yeah, she just bought a $400k+ house and it sounds amazing. I know they don't have taxes in Las Vegas like we do here but still, how do you afford something like that when you're 23? Unfortunately she's going to be working while she's in town, which answers my question of how can she afford this house. Here I am thinking "take this time off, don't work, see if it makes you feel better about yourself!" It's out of my hands.
My mother broke the news to us, casually, that my aunt Esther died that morning. Actually my great aunt. I hadn't seen her in years since she and uncle Chris moved to Florida. We used to have all the family reunions at their house on Conseus Lake. Now I can't even remember what she looked like. I feel bad, but it's like I didn't know her. That's life. |
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| I feel better |
[Jul. 22nd, 2006|11:55 pm] |
Since my sister's party was postponed until Tuesday, I got a chance to fix two big problems around the house: the sink drain, and the built-in shelves in the dining area. (I will post pics of the latter when I'm completely done with it, trim, paint & all.) For the sink, I strapped up the drain pipe in the basement so it wouldn't fall through the floor, popped a new washer in there and re-attached the S-trap. No more water pouring out of my duct-tape. For the shelves, I punded them back together, built some legs, propped them up on the wall and completely secured them. I did the Jay test to make sure they were safe (if they'd support my weight, they passed). Then I broke in my table saw and made an end panel out of MDF. Not finished, but it looks nice.
For some reason, fixing things around the house is the best therapy for me. Once I finish a job I can relax and I have a deep sense of accomplishment.
Next is finishing the shelves, then installing the last of the trim upstairs and down, then new lights, and hopefully I can order some of that cool faux tin ceiling. This place will look amazing when I'm done with it. |
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| Feeling loose |
[Jun. 23rd, 2006|08:28 am] |
I just had my earlier-than-usual chiropractic checkup. Everytime she cracks my neck like that I think I'm going to be paralized from the neck down but I end up feeling more relaxed than when I came in. It makes me want to re-start my acupuncture treatments again.
One more 8-hour work day between me and weekend-o-fun! |
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| Being a dad is awesome |
[Jun. 17th, 2006|11:09 pm] |
Today, Emilia worked her way up to a standing position, let go of what she was holding on to, and raised both her arms in the air, as if to say "look at me, I just learned another way to freak you guys out and make you spend even more time looking after me!" She will start walking any day now, I just know it.
I am very excited about my first true father's day. We will be spending it with my dad out at the campground - it's also our "decoy party" for him, so he doesn't expect the big suprise one next Saturday.
Too much to plan. Next week is also our wedding anniversary (#2) and our trip to Ithaca. |
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| Getting Motivated |
[Jun. 16th, 2006|08:36 am] |
I am slowly getting re-motivated to do things around the house. We have been living in squalor long enough. Jason, Terri & Derek... I am feeling guilt over their situation. So every day, Emilia willing, I will do one more task. I have a long list ahead of me.
My dad's suprise party is just 8 days away. I think we're ready. Invites went out, decorations are almost done. Just some fine tuning.
I have one developer that wont call me back. I really want to work on his house. It's a 1900's mansion and I want to take all the valuables. I love my job. It's like legalized robbery.
More later, gotta go. |
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