ux4484

2011-12-07T16:38:00.001-06:00

So... Blago gets 14 years for doing what every politician does (lying), I think the "Occupy" movement should shift it's misguided gears to get every politician who lies convicted... ...but of course....then there won't be ANY politicians. It would be a sure way to get and enforce term limits... work a term, get sentenced to a term :^D :^D :^D ;^)

Could have been the worst week of my life...

2011-09-25T10:00:00.001-05:00

If you asked me on Tuesday morning, I would have said it was... Still sucked, but good news and 10 tons of damage control by the Mrs and I won out... Word of advice... Don't ever give your kids everything... Because in the end, they'll expect it. We didn't, but clearly gave too much. Be a parent first, and a friend second. Because at some point you'll have to stop being their friend to be

Stock Market Fiasco

2011-09-22T15:42:00.001-05:00

DJ down 391 points @ close. If you haven't already moved your 401k into your fixed option... Do so ASAP. Oh... Those schmoe's on the news who are saying the bond market is the only safe place to be... are LYING. The bond market is in a bubble actually BIGGER than the housing one that put us here. Don't say I didn't warn you. POP! BTW... In case you haven't noticed... I'm BACK!

Look for the union FABLE...

2011-09-22T15:35:00.001-05:00

Remember that catchy jingle from the 70's? From thefreeonlinedictionary.com: fa·ble (fbl) n. 1. A usually short narrative making an edifying or cautionary point and often employing as characters animals that speak and act like humans. 2. A story about legendary persons and exploits. 3. A falsehood; a lie. Union "brotherhood" is a Fable. In "The City" it's definition #3.

Our Fine Union Leaders...

2011-09-22T11:47:00.001-05:00

So... (As reported in the news) Dennis Gannon and a host of other union muckety-mucks (including my union B.A.) got a sweetheart deal from the Daley administration to get their city pension based on their UNION Job salary (pension based on a pay level none of them would have EVER reached in their former city jobs).... To add insult to injury, Gannon and others were able to collect that pension

Lenten Hiatus

2011-03-08T17:37:00.002-06:00

Happy Paczki Day, see you in 46 days

Hiatus

2011-02-14T15:38:00.004-06:00

Apparently, I have nothing to say, and when I do; I say it very poorly and nobody is paying attention anyways (so I've been told). Even the minuscule amount of time I've spent posting here in the last year is time I could/should have spent doing something else, because it's not specific to a "community" of sorts (who in reality don't want to read this much about me anyways).Five & 1/2 years, I

Fender Blacktop Stratocaster, best electric in the Stable

2011-01-10T09:21:00.006-06:00

First off, let me once again thank Rose for a wonderful Christmas Gift.O.K. I LOVE this freakin' guitar! I took it by my fav Luthier Mike at A Sound Education in Brookfield last week, who tweaked the one thing I don't like to mess with (The Truss Rod in the neck), and now this thing is perfect.Of the electric guitars in the Stable (This makes 4 for electrics) This is the most professional

Mixed Bag Christmas

2010-12-28T12:51:00.005-06:00

By Mixed bag, I don't mean bad, just super different. Firstly most different without Mom, because she looked so forward to it, she didn't want to be the center of attention, but she wanted to see it all unfold. While we all attempted smiles and happiness, When the "from beyond" presents came out, no one had a moment that didn't include tears. I lost it a few times at our own house on Christmas as

Who's the new Chicago Mayor?

2010-09-15T16:30:00.002-05:00

As far as I'm concerned, anyone who will stop outsourcing city services and remove the residency requirement for city employees......and of course, keep the city trades union shops.

Green Lantern on the brain....and on the lawn

2010-08-19T14:34:00.002-05:00

O.K. I know Comic-con is coming up this weekend, and there is a lot of Buzz about the Green Lantern Movie. It may have been subliminal, but halfway through cutting the lawn on the parkway, I couldn't help but notice that I created this. I boosted the contrast so hopefully you can all see it too.As an additional note: I've wanted a GL movie since I was a kid, but now the story line and the number

Phishing email on Gmail

2010-08-05T12:27:00.004-05:00

In case any of you have a Gmail account and received the message quoted/hi-lighted below, be aware that Gmail will NEVER send you an email asking for your login and password. Even if you specifically requested to change your password, even then, they would not ask you for it in an email. Do not reply to the message which appears to be from the Gmail team, but is actually a spammed email address (

30 years ago

2010-07-12T15:33:00.004-05:00

Who the HECK is this toothpick Kid?Freaky I was so scrawny... and ate about the same I do now.Things have changed in more ways that that, but I really can't complain. That big hair (naturally) and scrawny build nabbed me a girl who was (and is) way out of my league (and I love her all the more for it).Concerning this picture: One thing I can complain about is that my fellow wedding band members

If you met us in Ireland....

2010-06-27T10:48:00.002-05:00

.... and we offered you pictures, please post a reply to this post with your email address and after July 4th weekend, I'll get the pics/video to you or send you a link so you can download it yourself.We had a great time, and the folks in Kilkenny were especially wonderful.--

No good deed goes unpunished....

2010-05-14T09:09:00.004-05:00

Ya know, when a Dad volunteers to coach a team...when he doesn't even have a kid on that team (but will next year) so he can coach it next year as well, he's going above and beyond the call of duty. That guy happens to be a hardworking, super nice guy, with great kids who show up to cheer your team on, and NEVER yells at (or is negative with) a single kid, and is one of the best kids coaches I've

On Hiatus

2010-04-05T13:38:00.002-05:00

...

Mom

2010-03-17T17:41:00.003-05:00

It was just a week ago today that I was talking to you, I just can't believe what has happened in the last 7 days.Over the last few years, Almost every time I said I loved you... you responded: "I love you too kid, more than you'll ever know" Now I know.May the Lord bless you and keep you.EstherMarch 1929 - 11, March 2010****

On Hiatus

2010-01-30T11:32:00.002-06:00

Until further notice.Take care all!I'll be back... eventually... but will be too occupied to hit any of the usual places.-

Touch Home screen

2009-12-28T14:21:00.004-06:00

I thought I'd "touch" on what's on my PDA replacement iPod touch home screen (1st page of apps):I'm re-arranging right now, so I'll only hit on the one's I'm using daily, built in apps have an asterisk (*) next to them.* Clock: Best alarm clock app on any handheld device I've owned. No limit to alarms, and sooOOoo easy to add or change alarms.*Photos: Just too simple and easy to use to bother

Merry Christmas Everyone (2009 edition)

2009-12-25T01:58:00.002-06:00

Hi everyone, I hope you are all having a wonderful Holiday...Whatever holiday you celebrate.I'd like once again to say Hi to a few folks we won't be able to see this Holiday Season.Ethel: It's much harder to cook a real Christmas dinner without you here, Rest in peace.Patti: Sleep in heavenly peace. Christmas was always special when you were around, we try to make sure your spirit is felt every

Healthy Food

2009-12-15T16:02:00.011-06:00

So....it's early 1980, and my girlfriend (now wife) tells me she wants to take me to one of her favorite places in Bridgeport (in "The City"). A place her parents took her to. We hop on a 35th street bus, get off at Halsted, and walk a few blocks north to this place called "Healthy Food". Back in those days, the sign was an old brown rusted Theater Marquis thingy with most of the bulbs

Slow Down Music Trainer: An Ipod app I'm willing to pay for

2009-12-08T10:00:00.001-06:00

I’ve been a couple months with my Touch so far, and the app choices are endless. But as I have a 8gig model, I’ve been trying to keep it to apps I actually use. I’ve been hesitant to buy anything I couldn’t try in a lite or free version first. As mentioned previously, I did pop for ewallet, but other apps I use don’t require the paid features (like Evernote, I’ll never even approach their minimum

Best PDA Ever! .....The iPod Touch

2009-11-12T09:45:00.001-06:00

O.K.....so you'd think someone who works IN technology would be behind converged devices.....we'll I'm not sold yet. I'm especially not sold because of the $30-$40 extra a month the Cell providers want to charge you for a data plan for the "honor" of owning such a device (iphone, Droid, Palm Pre, G1, BBerry Storm, WM smartphone etc...).Until recently, I was still toting around my six year old

Chicago 2016

2009-10-05T15:35:00.004-05:00

It's over!Part of me is relieved, the other part is in panic. The part that's relieved is so because I won't have to deal with the miles of work that would have ensued for the next 7 years. Jamming a New communications system, new recorders, new radios, multiple secondary sites (all with duplicates of aforementioned equipment)while maintaining the existing equipment and functionality would have

Wake me up when September ends....

2009-09-18T14:51:00.004-05:00

July 15th...ZOOOM!....Sept 18th. It's kind of nice being too busy to do this. Rooting for the White Sox, though I don't think they'll catch Detroit. We have four games this week....it would be nice to see them make it close. August/September always brings gobs of computer jobs, no one really worries much about their computer until their kids need them for school. Took the Mrs and the girls to

Lots going on but....

2009-07-15T12:00:00.003-05:00

Just no time to blog it. Bad work stuff, bad economy stuff.Teen and pre-teen stuff (not bad, just "stuff").First time camping in 36 years (Cornerstone Festival with Daughter #1)Wonderful Birthday provided by the Mrs. Saved $350 making my own Roof rack for the Mazda out of electrical clamps and galvanized pipe for my rooftop storage trunk. Going lighthouse and Whale watching on the east coast

I am one pampered Dad...

2009-06-22T09:44:00.002-05:00

Fathers Day came a day early this year when "The Girls" presented me with one of these on Saturday afternoon (so I could jam for a few hours as we knew Sunday would be busy). That's a 5 string Fretless, and about the best value in one on the planet. It's great!I've got a wonderful wife and kids!

Star Trek..... Spoilers Abound!

2009-05-20T15:55:00.002-05:00