From the Yiddish
I am a total schmuck. I realize this will come as no big surprise to most of you, but I feel that I should acknowledge the fact from time to time, if only to keep it real. An elderly gentleman from church, a member of the Knights, passed away last week. I learned of his passing on Tuesday and sent out an email to the other Knights informing them. I also told them that I would let them know as I became aware of more details. The funeral was today at 1:00.
- Schmuck exhibit 1 – Despite learning of the date and time of the funeral on Thursday, I neglected to pass that information along until I was asked about it this morning. Ugh. Only slightly mitigating this neglect was the fact that we did announce the arrangements at the Council meeting on Thursday night. I still should have sent a follow-up email.
- Schmuck exhibit 2 – I received a phone call on Saturday from a number I didn’t recognize. I didn’t answer it and it usually takes me a long time to listen to messages. So today, at about 1:30 I listened to 4 or 5 messages that had accumulated on my phone. The one from Saturday was from the widow of the man who’d passed away. She was calling to ask if I’d participate in the funeral service.
Man I suck.
A new name, let’s play the game
This has been a longish weekend of doing nothing. In other words, perfect!
I played some LOTRO, but I spent most of my time watching TV. I still have a lot of catching up to do from when I was busy watching Oscar nominees. But the thing is, it’s been rather tough to rekindle interest in a lot of these shows. Maybe it’s time to cut some of them loose. And actually, I’ve already started doing that. A week or two ago, I set my TiVo to stop recording CSI and CSI:NY. Other programs that may soon go the way of the dodo include: Chuck, Castle, No Ordinary Family, and The Cape. And Survivor this season, well, I haven’t even started watching it. I’ve had no interest.
*Ping*
I think I’ve been having some real blood sugar issues this weekend. It might be time to start taking my health a little more seriously. 🙁
Also, I could really go for a deep-tissue massage right now.
People Are People so Let us live and strive for freedom in South Africa our land
Went to see/hear Archbishop Desmond Tutu speak on Ubuntu tonight at the college.
Sadly, I learned nothing about a Linux OS.
Anglo-files
When I was in seventh grade, a girl and her family moved to Modesto. Her father worked for Shell Development, as did the father of my buddy, David. If I remember the origin story correctly, David attended a company picnic and there became aware of this girl, Carolyn Grayson. Carolyn and her family were from England. Now to this point, I’d never met someone from England (or anywhere in Europe) and foreign countries seemed so exotic. Also, it was a time when my friends and I were fully into James Bond and spy stuff. So it amused me to joke and pretend that Carolyn was a spy from the UK that was undercover a grade ahead of me at school. I don’t think I ever actually spoke to her, but we (I) had a grand time running all over school and the local neighborhood pretending to spy on her and also avoid her being able to spy on me. Look, it all made sense when I was 13.
I think her family moved away after that year. Or maybe the next. Either way, when I went into eighth grade, she went to a different school and I never saw her again. Here’s the incredibly dorky and embarrassing (and possibly alarming and worrying part). For some time thereafter, to continue my little espionage fantasy game, I would wave at passing aircraft as if it were Carolyn (or one of her agents) in the plane doing a fly over reconnaissance. God! how lame I was (and still am I suppose)!
I think this is the house where she lived while in Modesto.
The college-wide Planning & Budget Committee meeting was this morning. It was for staff and students to give testimony about their reaction to the proposed cuts for next year. For the most part, I was VERY impressed with the speeches that were given. One after another, people spoke for up to three minutes, offering evidence and arguments about why this or that program or position should be spared. It certainly gave me a lot to think about. I really appreciated the civil tone of most of the people.
Until this one student, speaking in a British accent (that I’m not entirely convinced was real) took his turn and really was pretty rude. He was even admonished by the co-chair of the committee to keep things civil. Well, his attitude was a real turn off. Honestly, it caused me to stop listening, both to him and to everyone who followed him.
I ask the question: Do we think that such incivility (tempting though it may be) helps or hurts the causes for which we fight?
the beetle bugs are zooming and the tulip trees are blooming
I called in sick to work today. When I woke up, my throat was very sore and the pain continued into my ear. I hoped that it would resolve itself after taking a shower, but no luck. So I called in. With the recent anxiety at work and the meeting I had to prepare for tonight, the threat of not feeling well was all that was needed for me to decide.
So, I watched tv, played some LOTRO, did some writing, made a big lunch (steak, mixed vegetables, chicken flavored rice), and tried to take it easy. Then tonight I went to my Knights of Columbus meeting. I rather dreaded going to the meeting. Not because there was going to be anything unpleasant or what have you. But because when I have a free day, I don’t want to worry about evening committments. Once it was all said and done, it was fine. But it does make me think I should say “no” more often.
Half day at work tomorrow, with the morning dominated by a campus-wide Planning and Budget meeting. Yeah. That will be fun.
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end
Ok, I’m moved to this new site now. It’s not ‘done’, but it’s far enough along that I shall delay no further.
I’m having a tough time at work this week. Not as tough as many others; I’m not slated to lose my job. I feel bad for those who are staring down the barrel of unemployment, particularly my friends. But that’s not what’s getting to me. At least I think it not what’s getting to me….
No, I’m experiencing what I think are panic or anxiety attacks. It’s all the fracking commotion around me and the fact that there are numerous times throughout the week that I can hear (and not shut out) no fewer than 4 or 5 gorram conversations happening at once. And Lordy! the way people yell and shout at each other. It’s maddening! (Did I spell that right??)
I’m think I’m going to see about getting a prescription for some anxiety medication. But I won’t be doing that soon. Got lots of other stuff to spend money on over the next few months.
Modesto AmBadAssadors, suit up!
Saw Unknown tonight. Liked it a lot! Liam Neeson brings the bad ass and both ladies in the film are easy on the eyes. This was my first movie, post-oscars, and it was supposed to be the inaugural regularly scheduled Modesto AmBadAssadors meetup. But I went by myself. Boo! Ah well. Next week – Adjustment Bureau.
Score = A- (just a couple of minor plot questions I had, nothing big.)
I’m transfering my blog to a new address: www.seaners4real.net. For a couple of days, this site might be mirrored over there, just until I get it all set up. But it will be moving very soon.
Fruitcakes
This is a pretty bleak time at MJC. Lots of layoffs are expected. Departments are likely to be cut. There’s quite an uproar under weigh. I plan to post about it some, but I’d like to wait until things are a little more definite.
I decided to experiment with food tonight. I’ve made banana pancakes several times and I wanted to try making strawberry-banana pancakes. But I also had some blueberries. So I tried mixing them all together.
I now realize that the blueberries were a bit of a mistake. I cooked them up and they were ok, but I should have blended the blueberries as well. Next time.
Oscar Sunday
Tonight was the 83rd Academy Awards.
There weren’t any big surprises. The hosts were ok, but not great. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to see all the nominated movies over the past few months. My final count was 44 out the 56 movies nominated. Not bad. But it didn’t help much when it came to guessing the winners in each category. I only correctly guessed 9 out of 24. My coworker, Ruth, having seen only 10 or so of the nominees, got 11 correct. Part of my problem is that, yes, I could have selected the movie I expected to win, but I went more with the choice that I felt should win. Clearly the Academy and I do not see eye to eye. That’s ok. Everyone is entitled to be wrong; even the Academy.
