Rambler's Roost

Moving in five days

2006-03-08T14:24:00.000-05:00

That's right, we're leaving Indiana on March 13, bound for Tucson, Arizona. Wooo Hoo!
The picture is our new house south of Tucson. :)

Ten days away

2006-03-03T08:26:00.000-05:00

We're moving in ten days.

Observations:

1. Living out of suitcases and boxes is frustrating.

2. THINKING about moving is fun. ACTUALLY moving is not much fun.

3. Buying a house long-distance is a great way to test your patience.

4. I don't like job-hunting.

5. I do like many of the new people I've met.

6. TG for friends. :)

Sunshine

2006-01-19T12:44:00.000-05:00

Sunshine is a rare occurence here in Northern Indiana. Really! On average we get 88 clear days per year, according to the national weather service. So.. today is sunny! Yee ha!

Have a sunny day wherever you are!

Yikes!

2006-01-05T07:38:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I last updated this thing.. so here's the update!

Taking my A+ hardware certification test this Friday. I've been studying since Monday.

We hope to be moving out of Indiana around mid-February. So much to do, so little time.

Take care, have a great week all!

Planning a move

2005-12-15T07:10:00.000-05:00

The wife and I are planning to move from Indiana to Arizona or New Mexico. Put that way it sounds sooo simple. Then I stop and think about it. Moving four horses, two dogs, a shop full of woodworking equipment and all of our household possesions... WHEW! This is going to be interesting.

Snow!

2005-11-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

We're in for a day of the white stuff here in Northern Indiana, according to the weather person on the radio. I like snow, but I'm not too fond of the cold.

Over the weekend we were in the upper part of the lower peninsula of Michigan, near the little town of Wellston. They had 8-10 inches of the white stuff last week, then warm temps on Sunday (41 degrees F). When you've got 8-10 inches of melting snow, everything gets wet and sloppy. Yech!

Continually puzzled

2005-10-31T09:28:00.000-05:00

I am continually puzzled by the terrorists in Iraq. Seems to me (merely an observer, I’ll freely admit) that if you are trying to build popular support for an "insurgency," then killing Iraqi civilians, especially women and children, isn’t a reasonable or effective strategy.

Horses

2005-10-05T12:35:00.000-05:00

Horses are very focused creatures. *grin*

Really, they are completely focused on the most basic needs; Food, water, friends and flight. They really don't care about bad weather, the idiot who just cut you off in traffic, the state of the economy, etc. They'll let you talk on and on about most anything, but what they really want to know is: "Hey, you got anything to eat?"

Have a great wednesday everyone!

Oh, NOW I get it...

2005-09-14T07:25:00.000-05:00

Al Qaeda in Iraq killed over one hundred Iraqi civilians today using suicide bombers in vans. They claim the attacks are in revenge for the US and Iraqi offensive against al Qaeda forces in northern Iraq.

Now this is logic for you: al Qaeda in Iraq is using various types of bombs and suicide bombers to kill innocent Iraqi civilians, civilian government officials, Iraqi military and coalition military. And, if anyone trys to stop them, their response is going to be the killing of more innocent civilians. Ain't these guys great? Real brave "freedom fighters" aren't they?

Duck and run for cover

2005-09-09T15:09:00.000-05:00

The armchair warriors are out in force.

Yes, the Govt's response to the hurricane sucked.

NO, I don't think that anyone else (armchair warriors, especially) could have done much better, given the circumstances.

CONCLUSIONS from recent tragedies, events or natural disasters: Don't build a city below sea level, or on an earthquake fault, or along a river. Don't build levees. Don't build high-rise buildings. Don't hang out in night clubs built from wood. Don't fly in airplanes. Don't ride on trains. Don't... I think you get the picture.

In short: Crap happens. Move on. Do better next time. Pray.

Tell your family and friends you love them. Don't wait till tomorrow, do it now.

Modern Man

2005-08-30T15:23:00.000-05:00

Does anyone still think we're somehow "better" than the rest of the world? More sophisticated? More "modern?" Better read this.

Summer's End

2005-08-29T10:02:00.000-05:00

Summer is about over, at least as far as my job is concerned. We work with schools, so our workload really drops during June, July and August. Teachers and students are returning to school now, so the lazy days are done, and away we go!

This time of year is rather busy, so work days go by very fast, at least for the next few weeks.

I hope all is well with anyone who reads this, take care, and God Bless!!

LIFE

2005-08-15T08:46:00.000-05:00

Life speeds past, a fleeting glimpse of that condition which only GOD knows as permanent. Live your life to the fullest!!

On a brighter note:

Had a great trail ride a week ago yesterday. Cash (my horse) and I had a great time. We encountered a rather large log blocking the trail (about three feet high), and he decided we needed to jump over it. Sailed about five feet high and around fifteen feet horizontal. Then he got excited and decided we needed to jump over anything more than six inches high. LOL. It was fun.

My brother's journey back post-anuerism and stroke continues. He is now walking quite well with a cane, and his short term memory continues to improve. We're hopefull he can move from the nursing home to assisted living soon.

Have a great week all, take care and God Bless!

Summer is almost over

2005-08-02T07:27:00.000-05:00

Summer's almost over, and there is so much left to do. *frown* We've been painting, cleaning, planting and weeding for two months now. We're prepping the house in order to put it up for sale. Best of all, we've already got at least one possible buyer, so this should be a relatively easy sale, I hope. All the work we've done over the past several years looks to be paying off, as we're asking almost 40% more than what we originally paid. Not bad for a house we've only lived in for 8 years.

Rain, yes!

2005-07-25T07:33:00.000-05:00

But the heat that came along with it is, well, withering. "We're having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave, etc."

It's 7:30 AM and already 85 degrees F, with the humidity over 90%. That translates to HOT! Hope it is cooler wherever you are.

Northern Indiana Rain

2005-07-18T07:19:00.000-05:00

Here in Northern Indiana we've endured drought conditions for the past several months. At the start of July, we were 6" behind on total rainfall for the year. We've had clouds of dust in the air, dried up crops (very bad news for corn flakes fans), and very low water levels in our lakes and rivers. My lawn looked like desert scrub, and the pastures at the stables were becoming giant dustbowls.

Not anymore. It has been raining every day since since Tuesday, July 12. Not all day, every day, but we have gotten at least 1/2 inch of rain every day for the past seven days.

Welcome to the machine

2005-07-12T07:42:00.000-05:00

Although, if you can read this, you are probably well aware of how you got here. :)

Have been busy at the company office tweaking our network. I've been cleaning up registries on the various machines, optimizing our DSL connection speed, and prepping our last Win98 'puter to be sold or donated (shredding old files, defraging the HD, etc.). In short, entertaining myself with how far these machines have come since we bought this old computer (a 366 meg Celeron on an AT MB).

Interestingly, I timed the old beast running an Excel spreadsheet, then ran the same file on a new 2.6 gig P4... only a 2 sec difference. Hmmmm. Found roughly the same difference in performance running an Access database query, too. Dbl hmmm. Aha you ask, do I want to go back to the old machines running Win98? Not a chance.

Horses

2005-07-11T15:43:00.000-05:00

are like people, cause no two are exactly alike.

Fortunately, they all seem to have similar learning styles. :)

Take care, n have a great week!

A final look

2005-04-13T12:24:00.000-05:00

at the Terri Schiavo case.

Review the facts here. Objective minds will find this a careful and extensive look at the facts. Others will believe whatever they wish to believe.

Where do I stand on this case? I stand with the LAW, my friends. To do otherwise makes a mockery of everything we in the USA purport to stand for.

When things don't go as planned

2005-03-29T07:41:00.000-05:00

Many human beings are quick to pass judgement on others who don't believe as they do. Interestingly, one of these humans goes by the name of Osama Bin Laden. Get the message?

Americans, people of the world, whoever.. when you are infallible, then you will have my undivided support as you pass judgement on others.

Hate

2005-03-15T07:44:00.000-05:00

is a fine motivator. Really. Three recent historical examples: Adolf Hitler, Radovan Karadzic, Osama Bin Laden. They use(d) the power of hate to motivate and inspire their followers, asking them to commit acts of inhuman violence against their fellow human beings. What is it about the human animal that lets us convince ourselves that hate is a viable answer?

Welcome to Monday!

2005-03-07T09:07:00.000-05:00

May your week be productive and your life bring joy to others.

Updates

2005-02-28T08:26:00.000-05:00

Update on Iraq: More senseless deaths in the ongoing campaign of stupidity, as a suicide bomber saved over 100 of the people of Iraq from the horrors of US occupation. He killed them, thus ending their suffering. By this logic, an atomic bomb exploded over Baghdad would be the ultimate act of redemption, saving all of those poor souls living there.

If the insurgents put one-tenth of the effort they employ to blow up Iraqi's into helping to rebuild Iraqs infrastructure, they would have a far more effective means of persuading the populace to see their point of view. But, that would take BRAINS, a commodity most of them apparently lack.

Back to school for the Rambler

2005-02-21T08:44:00.000-05:00

I've embarked on a new venture.. getting officially certified for jobs I already do. This should be interesting. I wonder just how much I'll need to re-learn? *grin*

It was raining all day Sunday, the type of freezing-rain that Midwesterners know all too well. Doing anything outside in this type of rain is "extremely uncomfortable."
So, I spent much of the afternoon working indoors on odd jobs around the house.

Monday morning ramblings

2005-02-14T07:53:00.000-05:00

Saturday (February 12) here in Indiana was beautiful. 50 degrees Farenheit, sunny, with a very light breeze. So of course, I was stuck inside working on a cranky computer. (I did a bad thing.. I downloaded two Win 98 security updates, and one of them corrupted IE's initialization files).

Problem solved at great expense (new computer, transfer important files), I was looking forward to church, then going riding on Sunday afternoon (predicted weather was 50 degrees, partly cloudy). It rained all day, a slow, steady rain under lead-colored skys... not my idea of riding weather.

So... the horses got a break from work, and I spent time re-formatting the old computer's hard drive and re-installing Windows. This is one time I can say its great to be back at the office, and maybe less work!

Rambling at the Roost

2005-02-07T08:37:00.000-05:00

Horses, my friends, are VERY nervous creatures. Especially on their first ride after a two month vacation.

Monday is NOT my favorite day of the week.

It is a sad day in Philadelphia. And, the Patriots are very gracious winners.

All things move toward chaos, some more rapidly than others. Computer networks are on the high-speed end of that scale.

The tsunami victims need at least as much help now as they did in December and January.

There are some incredibly brave people working in Iraq. Some of them we call Americans, some we call American allies, and the greatest number of them are Iraqis who simply go about the business of living each and every day.

Back to work

2005-01-31T08:05:00.000-05:00

Yep, it is Monday morning. Back to work for many of us. And, back to work for the good people of Iraq, who just took part in an historic first; An open election for their country's leadership. Amazingly, in spite of the violence, they had roughly a 60% turnout. That's actually a better turnout than most elections in the USA.

Will this election change anything about the day-to-day lives of Iraqis? Probably not. Still and all, it is a step in the right direction.

Monday Morning

2005-01-24T09:10:00.000-05:00

and I feel fine! Had a great weekend, no big problems (unless you count the 12 inches of snow we got Friday night as a problem).

The horses seem to LOVE the foot-deep snow, or at least, they sure do like playing in it. They'll roll around till they're covered in a frosty blanket, then stand up and shake it all off. Must feel good, cause they do that a lot!

Smile, and have a great week!

Another year older

2005-01-17T08:20:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my birthday, and I'm really NOT feeling my age. Must be the weather, or something, 'cause I feel far younger than my years. *smile* Of course, THAT may all change tomorrow, so I'll enjoy the feeling as long as it lasts....

U.S. Gov't Red Tape

2005-01-11T09:33:00.000-05:00

is unimaginable!

I've been working with the US Navy and the United States Veterans Administration (VA) for over one year, and I still don't get it. Notifying one VA office (Indianapolis, in this case) of a change in status doesn't automatically mean that any other VA office will be notified! It's inconceivable to me how they ever get anything done. Imagine having to notify EVERY branch office of your insurance company every time you make a change to your policy. THIS IS INSANE!

Add to that the frustration of constantly changing contact people, the fact that NO ONE there ever seems to know what anyone else has done, and that no one there seems to know who's job it is to help you with a particular problem... and I get to call 'em again today. Lucky me. I feel a bad headache coming on.

Totally unmotivated

2005-01-07T13:07:00.000-05:00

Must be the post-holiday, post-tsunami, mid-winter doldrums.

Thinking about our troops at the Holidays

2004-12-23T10:40:00.000-05:00

I came across this poem by a U.S. Soldier.

"A Soldiers Christmas"

Twas the night Before Christmas, he lived all alone, In a one bed room house made of plaster and stone. I had come down the chimney with presents to give And to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about, a strange site did I see, No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree, No stockings by the mantle, Just boots filled with sand. On the wall hung pictures of far distance lands, With Medals and badges, Awards of all kinds, A sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary, I had found the home of a soldier once I could see clearly I heard stories about them, I had to see more So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door. The solider lay sleeping, silent, alone, Curled up in this, His one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder, Not how I pictured a United States Solider. Was this the War Hero of whom I’d just read? Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed? His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan, I soon understood this was more than a man.

I realized the families that I saw this night Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight. Soon round the world the children would play And grownups celebrate a bright Christmas day. They enjoyed freedom each month of the year, Because of these solders like the one lying here.

I could not help wonder how many lay alone On a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home. The very thought brought a tear to my eye Dropped to my knees and started to cry. The Soldier awakened and I hear a rough voice, “Santa don’t cry, this is my life, my choice: I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more "My life is my God, my country my Corps.”

The Solider rolled over and soon drifted to sleep I couldn’t control it I started to weep. I kept watch for hours. So silent and still And we both shivered from the cold nights chill. I took off my jacket, the one made of red, And I covered this Soldier from his toes to his head. And I put on his T-shirt of gray and black, With an eagle and an Army patch embroidered on back. And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride, And for a shining moment, I was United States Army deep inside.

I didn’t want to leave on that cold dark night, This guardian of honor, so willing to fight. Then the Solider rolled over with a voice soft and pure, Whispered, "Carry on Santa, Christmas Day is Secure" One look at my watch and I knew he was right Merry Christmas my friend and to all a good night.

I wrote this poem for Christmas Eve 1993
while assigned to US Forces Korea
Lt Col Bruce Lovely, USAF
(Printed in the Fort Leavenworth Lamp, 1995)

SNOW!

2004-12-23T07:39:00.000-05:00

It's snowing outside, and this time it looks like it is going to stay through Christmas. So, it'll be a white Christmas in Indiana. Yay!

Christmas time is here

2004-12-14T09:26:00.000-05:00

NO, this isn't a rant about some rude shopper, or some hapless idiot who just cut me off on the highway.

Instead, I'm determined to look at this holiday season another way. What am I doing, you ask? Its simple. I've decided to keep track of the number of GOOD deeds that I see or experience this season. Most memorable so far:

While parking my car in a large lot, two cars went for the same open space. One, an older couple in a small compact car. The other, a battered pickup driven by a man who was clearly in a hurry. He was also headed into the space when he noticed the other car with the older couple. He backed up, waved them in, then drove away as they parked. Amazing!

Of course, I've seen many rude, inconsiderate folks out there, doing rude, inconsiderate things. Happens all the time. But, do we ever stop to notice the good things?

Try it, you might be pleasantly suprised!

Horse Day!!!

2004-12-08T07:26:00.000-05:00

Due to an overflowing schedule of Christmas gift-making, gift buying and really crappy weather here in Northern Indiana, I've been neglecting my horse's exercise. So, we've gone riding once in the past three weeks.

But, today is HORSE day, I'm headed to the barn after work. *smile* Riding is sooo therapeutic. Cash (my horse's name) doesn't care about stress, work, bad day, etc. He'll listen to anything you want to say, he never talks back and, if you scratch him right and give him some food, he's your pal. People should be more like horses.

Monday, B.C.

2004-12-06T10:25:00.000-05:00

That's "before caffeine." I'm feeling way too tired to go to work. Anyone got a cup of coffee?

Why is it so much harder to get up on Monday morning than on Saturday or Sunday?

In the Headlines

2004-12-03T10:48:00.000-05:00

This morning I'm following my usual routine, catching up with friend's via their blogs, reading the headlines, etc., when I come across this article. I don't know about anyone else, but this raises all sorts of red flags for me. This is a dangerous road they are taking us down, and one I don't think we should be on. If basic human rights are something we believe in, then torture is simply wrong. And where does it stop? Our laws are based on precedent. Torturing suspected foreign terrorists today sets a precedent for torturing domestic terrorists tomorrow. And where does it go from there? Why not torture suspects for other crimes, like, say, murder, or rape?

We the people of the United States say that we uphold certain ideals, such as basic human rights and dignity, the rule of law, etc. What is different here? If we can give up our ideals so easily in the name of security, then I say that the terrorists have already won.

JUMPING OFF OF THE STUMP

Some things just get me fired up.

A Blog to call my own

2004-12-02T11:25:00.000-05:00

Yep, I've finally done it, I've started my own blog. My thanks to Sarah, Ashley, Olivia and Lee for inspiring me with their little corners of the web.

Home Is the Sailor

Home is the sailor, home from sea:

Her far-borne canvas furled

The ship pours shining on the quay

The plunder of the world.

Home is the hunter from the hill:

Fast in the boundless snare

All flesh lies taken at his will

And every fowl of air.

'Tis evening on the moorland free,

The starlit wave is still:

Home is the sailor from the sea,

The hunter from the hill.

A.E. Housman