Current Brainstorms
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
"I think he just snapped," says the ex-wife of the sniper.
My response: REALLY?!? You don't say. I thought all sane people went around shooting random innocent victims. (Author's Note: There is a definite hint of sarcasm in the tone)
The news
headlines about Israel are particularly disturbing this morning.
Last night I was watching
Friday the 13th Part 2 on cable. I wish they wouldn't show a slasher movie and then take out all the slasher scenes. Just my two cents.
I decided what I want to be for Halloween, but I don't know if I'm actually going to do it or not. I'm going to have a nametag that says, "Hello My Name Is: God." I'll have cards in my pocket. One set will be "Eternal Damnation" cards and the other will be "Get Out of Hell Free." It was a close call between that and trying to be a shoulder angel/devil. But I don't think I could play the angel role. :-)
Well.. I was supposed to go to
Screams tomorrow night with my cousin, but I don't think they are going to be open. Maybe something else instead.
8:21 AM Posted by Big Dave
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I guess I have been awfully quite this last week. Nothing big to report. It's been dreary weather which always makes for good sleeping weather. Today is the same way. I'd love to go home and take a nap, but I have a feeling I'll be up here late tonight. We can't make changes to the system until after 9:00PM b/c we'll actually have clients enrolling today.
This weekend was enjoyable but not terribly exciting. Friday night I got to go see the new
VeggieTales movie
Jonah. It at least amused me.
Saturday I went to a little shindig with a bunch of psychology students. In their honor I wore my T-shirt that says, "Don't talk to me when I'm talking to myself." I don't think any of them even commented on it. A couple of us did decide to jump on the trampoline though. I'm sure we were great amusement to everyone else who stayed inside. Desiree and I picked up pizza and a pumpkin and went back to my house to watch the Aggies loose to Nebraska. During half-time we carved the pumpkin. Just a good relaxing evening.
Sunday I got to go to the see the
Dallas Symphony Orchestra. I can't remember the last time I sent to the symphony. They were really good, but one of the songs was oddly familiar. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out where I knew it from and it suddenly hit me. It was from
Babe. It's from the scene where Farmer Hoggett gets up and does a dance and Babe starts eating again. From that moment on, I kept expecting Farmer Hoggett to come out on stage and do a jig. He never did, but that didn't stop me from wanting him to.
I got to work this morning to find a flurry of activity. In the middle of it all I had a message left from my company's insurance people. She told me that I'm not covered under benefits until June since my form was sent in late. Needless to say, I wasn't the most pleasant individual to deal with when she told me that. But I think I have a plan. I'm going to get some short-term insurance so I'm at least have some insurance until then.
10:51 AM Posted by Big Dave
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Tuesday, October 22, 2002
I've added pictures from Jeff and Lisa's wedding to my gallery.
Enjoy
[Update:] The pictures weren't working earlier, but they are now.
10:59 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Monday, October 21, 2002
And I thought I had a lot of time on my hands.
Imagine a
cannon that will shoot a 10 pound pumpkin through the rear of a car. You know... one of these days the news of the wierd will be just a little too wierd for me.
4:37 PM Posted by Big Dave
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It has been a long but delightful weekend. Saturday was Lisa and Jeff's wedding. Lisa looked absolutely gorgeous. They were both standing up there during the pastor's homily (mini-sermon), but I don't think they heard a word he said. I got to play some of the music I had set up, but most some of the wedding stuff was moved up and there wasn't too much dancing.
I did bring stuff to decorate the car though. Jeff gave us the keys. It was too easy. I was expecting to have to go through his parents to get the keys. We didn't do anything mean, but we did have a lot of fun with it. I think my favorite part were the Winnie the Pooh balloons.
After the wedding Desiree and I were hoping to go to see
Billy Graham talk along with
DC Talk and several other Christian bands. However, it took a little longer than I thought to get all the equipment back in my car. So we went to run errands for a bit. Including dropping off the tuxes and going to a bookstore. We had every intention of going to see the
Veggietales version of
Jonah, but we ended up hanging out and watching
Legally Blonde. Which suited me just fine.
I decided to take advantage of a dreary Sunday afternoon by catching up on my sleep. I slept basically from noon to 5. It was marvelous. I had stayed out late starting on Thursday night. I'm glad I got some of it back.
9:04 AM Posted by Big Dave
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Friday, October 18, 2002
As I drove to work this morning, I got to watch a spectacular sunrise. I had my camera and actually took a couple of quick pictures, but I have no idea if they will turn out. I was listening to the
Wolf and they played
Martina McBride's "Blessed." Listening to the song, watching sunrise, and thinking about all the good things that have been going on in my life, I have new appreciation for the lyrics.
8:51 AM Posted by Big Dave
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This has been a very interesting week. Work is really picking up and I already thought my schedule was pretty busy.
Tonight was the bachelor party for my buddy Jeff. I'm going to be a groomsman in his wedding on Saturday.
You know a lot of bachelor parties you really can't say what you did, but I'll tell on this one. Just not tonight.
Here's a little teaser though:
- Pete's Dualing Piano Bar
- Two gallon sized gator punch bowls from Razoos
- Hot dog eating contest
- Kevin won a 27" TV
[Bachelor Party Update] You know what? On second thought, I'm not going to spoil it. I'm not going to ruin the mystique of a bunch of guys running around doing stupid things. You'll just have to experience that on your own.
12:18 AM Posted by Big Dave
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Monday, October 14, 2002
There are very few spokes people that I absolutely can't stand, but Jerry Falwell is one of them. Some of Falwell's "statements" include:
-
The gay TeleTubby
-
America is being punished for turning away from God (in response to Sept 11, 2001)
- and most recently;
Muhammad was a terrorist
I really wish he wouldn't make such a farce out of Christianity. I'm pretty sure I can't change his mind, but I would love for the media to ignore him. However, that seems at least as unlikely since the media loves to stir up controversy.
3:09 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Friday, October 11, 2002
This is halarious. If you're computer doesn't have sound, find one that does. It's not the same without it.
Valhala I am coming
4:07 PM Posted by Big Dave
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This is actually a really cool idea. I don't think I would do it, but if I had a typical cubicle, I might.
Instead I have a lot of open space with those Japanese style cloth screens. They block the view of one desk to the other, but they don't do very much to stop sound from travelling. Therefore I wear my headphones an awful lot. Well actually, I would wear my headphones a lot anyway. I code much better listening to music. Oddly enough, I use it to tune everything out.
1:41 PM Posted by Big Dave
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My mom sent this to me today. I liked it so much I'm going to put it up here. I didn't write it, but I don't know who did so I can't give them credit.
TEXAS STUFF!
When you're from Texas, people that you meet ask you questions like, "Do you have any cows?" "Do you have horses?" "Bet you got a bunch of guns, eh?" They all want to know if you've been to Southfork. They watched "Dallas."
Have you ever looked at a map of the world? Look at Texas with me just for a second. That picture, with the Panhandle and the Gulf Coast, and the Red River and the Rio Grande is as much a part of you as anything ever will be. As soon as anyone anywhere in the world looks at it they know what it is. It's Texas.
Pick any kid off the street in Japan and draw him a picture of Texas in the dirt and he'll know what it is. What happens if I show you a picture of any other state? You'll get it maybe after a second, but who else would?
Even if you do, does it ever stir any feelings in you?
In every man, woman and child on this little rock the Good Lord put us on, there is a person who wishes just once he could be a real live Texan and get up on a horse or ride in a pickup. There is some bit of Texas in everyone. Did you ever hear anyone in a bar go, "Wow...so you're from Iowa? Cool, tell me about it?" Do you know why? Because there's no place like Texas.
Texas is the Alamo. Texas is 183 men standing in a church, facing thousands of Mexican nationals, fighting for freedom, who had the chance to walk out and save themselves, but stayed instead to fight and die for the cause of freedom.
We send our kids to schools named William B. Travis and James Bowie and Crockett and do you know why? Because those men saw a line in the sand and they decided to cross it and be heroes. John Wayne paid to do the movie himself. That is the Spirit of Texas.
Texas is Sam Houston capturing Santa Ana at San Jacinto. Texas is Juneteenth and Texas Independence Day. Texas is huge forests of Piney Woods like the Davy Crockett National Forest. Texas is breathtaking mountains in Big Bend. Texas is shiny skyscrapers in Houston and Dallas. Texas is world record bass from places like Lake Fork. Texas is Mexican food like nowhere in the world, even Mexico. Texas is the Fort Worth Stockyards and the Bass Hall. Texas is larger-than-life legends like Willie Nelson and Buddy Holly, Earl Campbell and Nolan Ryan, Denton Cooley and Michael DeBakey, Sam Rayburn, George Bush, and George W. Bush. Texas is great companies like Dell Computer and Compaq. Texas is huge herds of cattle and miles of crops. Texas is skies blackened with doves, and fields full of deer. Texas is a place where cities shut down for the Cowboys on Monday Night Football, and NIOSA River Parade in San Antonio. Texas is ocean beaches, deserts, lakes and rivers, mountains and prairies, and modern cities. If it isn't in Texas, you don't need it. No one does anything bigger or better than it's done in Texas.
By federal law, Texas is the only state in the U.S. that can fly its flag at the same height as the U.S. flag. Think about that for a second. You fly the Stars and Stripes at 20 feet in Maryland, or California, or Maine, and your state flag, whatever it is, goes at 17. You fly the Stars and Stripes in front of Pine Tree High in Longview at 20 feet, the Lone Star flies at the same height - 20 feet. Do you know why? Because we place being a Texan as high as being an American down here.
Our capitol is the only one in the country that is taller than the capitol building in Washington, D.C. We included these things in as part of the deal when we came on. That's the best part right there. WHEN WE CAME ON, Texas was its own country. The Republic of Texas. Every time I think of that I tear up. It makes you proud to be a Texan!!
1:29 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Thursday, October 10, 2002
Status Report:
Work is going fine. But I am going to have to start asking for stuff that's more challenging.
Dezi is great. Enough said. Tuesday night her
band was performing a concert. I went and enjoyed it. I just need to learn to listen for fun and not look for flaws.
I Have a lot to do this weekend. Next weekend is Lisa and Jeff's wedding. I'm playing DJ so I'm trying to put together a list of songs. Not to mention I have to wear a monkey suit. At least I clean up well. Also on the plate this weekend is the building of a new web site for a real-estate client. I've been quite busy recently and have let this slip. It's time to get it going. And quickly.
12:52 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Tuesday, October 08, 2002
Pop Quiz:
How many people do you know who can bring a 1.8 Ghz P4 with 512 MB Corsair memory to it's knees.
Well I can. This thing is dragging. But I've got Netbeans IDE, Web Sphere, DB2, Source Safe, WinAmp, and Outlook all running.
"
Polka Your Eyes Out," Baby! Gotta love
Wierd Al.
P.S. On a completely seperate note, my boss just raced me down the hall to get to the bathroom so he wouldn't have to use the kiddy urinal. Just a fun mental picture for you there.
2:02 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Monday, October 07, 2002
Well Ags, I have a long sad story to tell. And I'm not talking about the football game
It actually isn't that sad, but it is a long story. My epic camping adventure, I'll call it "Bob."
Bob
We started out Friday for our epic camping adventure. I had left work early to go home and assemble our provisions for the trip. I rescued the princess from the evil rental car company. I soon ran into resistance in the form of "Crazy Dallas Drivers". I was hoping that my secret weapon, Ye Old HOV lane would be of more assistance, but I was sadly mistaken.
After a long arduous battle through traffic we decided to stop and have a bite to eat at Ye Old Macaroni Grille. The serving wench was less than adequate but the food helped wash away some of the battle weariness. Little did I know that my next battle would be sooner than I thought.
The princess and I mounted my trusty steed. It was then that we discovered that my trusty steed had turned on me. A kind lord of the land assisted me in shocking life back into my treacherous steed, so we were soon on our way a nearby market. We pulled up to Ye Old Wal-Mart only to discover that the stables had recently closed. I chose to acquire the necessary quest items to complete the repairs myself. I returned shortly with a new shock box as well as assorted torture devices. It was then that I discovered that the Nameless One himself had occupied my old shock box and would not let go of the negative terminal. After much battling, the retreat was sounded and I withdrew from the field of battle. The noble security squire offered to advise the other squires to make sure my steed would be watched. The princess summoned her noble aunt and uncle who assisted us in our retreat. We arrived and set up camp. The princess herself provided protection for four younger ladies-in-waiting while I chose a spot nearby in case I was needed to protect the ladies-in-waiting.
After a sound night's sleep we returned to the battlefield to attempt a new strategy. The stables were now open and with the help of a somewhat dopey squire, we managed to get my steed into their stables. They were left with instructions to replace the shock box and the terminals and to summon me as needed. We returned to base camp to await our summons. When the summons came, I discovered that Ye Old Wal-Mart had also been infested by the dark one to such a degree that it had become the scum of bottom feeders. I was informed by the knave that they would not replace the shock box since they could not loosen the grasp of the Nameless One. I was informed that they did not replace terminals and would not continue to repair my noble steed. My anger at their impudence and ignorance was such to wish to squash them beneath my feet, but I was not in my own lands.
It was then that Merlin appeared. Merlin asked me not to reveal his true identity and to simply call him Gary. Gary returned to the fray where he struck down the Nameless One's grip. The new shock box was connected and my noble steed one again sprang to life. We returned to camp victorious in our grand quest.
That night we feasted. Much meat and mead was consumed. Good had triumphed over evil and the world was safe once again.
12:50 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Friday, October 04, 2002
I decided to go look at my
site activity today. I don't know why, but I either scared off a lot of people last month, or my hosting company lost the logs. I seem to remember checking it in September and it looked normal. Well, normal for this site anyway. I'm getting to take off early today to go camping. I'm definately excited about it.
I found out yesterday that I'm going to be doing testing work instead of development for a while. Of course there will still be some programming involved, but it's bug fixes as we discover them. The system has been built very rapidly, but hasn't really been tested. It's becoming and issue as they put it into the hands of the users. It will give me a chance to learn the system really well, but it's not the glorious thought provoking work I was hoping for. Don't worry. My time will come. Oh yes. It will come. And when it does, all will cower before me. MUHAHA!
9:06 AM Posted by Big Dave
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Thursday, October 03, 2002
I left my cell phone on my desk today and took a quick break. When I cam back, I discovered I had received a call. I didn't recognize the number and they left a hang up on my voice mail. Being the curious person that I am, I decided to track them down. It was some guy up in Toronto, Ontario. However, with a minimum amount of effort I now have a name, address, and phone number. It's scary what you can find on the
internet.
"There are worst things than vampires out tonight. Me." -
Wesley Snipes in
Blade
2:04 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Wednesday, October 02, 2002
I'm actually sitting up here, bored at work. I have several things I could be doing, but the files are all locked by someone else.
I discovered something last night. I still had a movie in my DVD player from about three weeks ago. Anyone who knows how much I like movies would understand the signifigance of that statement. Basically I haven't sat down to watch a movie at home in that amount of time. That should give you some idea of what a busy little beaver I have been.
I was invited by a group to go camping this weekend at
Cedar Hills State Park. I've never been to this park, but I'm told it's really nice.
3:48 PM Posted by Big Dave
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