It's The Irony

So, what invention am I thinking of?

First of all, technology can probably be traced all the way back to any improvement created to provide greater efficiency to an existing item or system.

The first guy to sharpen a piece of stone then tie it to the end of his arrow may have been appreciated as a clever and masterful hunter, or they may have just rolled their eyes at him while whispering about his eccentric approach to archery.

But sometime in the 1400s, there was an invention that propelled us significantly into the information age. The printing press came to life… and we have never been the same.

All of a sudden, several things changed. Now, everyone could receive identical information at the same time. Additionally, the printed page became an equalizer (at least among the literate) – the written word was no longer only available to the elite (consider the Reformation). Also, there was now the opportunity to build upon previous information, since it could be universally accessible.

How long do I cook a turkey? Did Matt Damon ever win an Oscar? When was the War of 1812? Who can I get to fix my leaking roof? Where can I find a petroglyph?

When we want information, where do we turn? Most of us go right to the internet. But that’s a relatively recent solution. Prior to the convenience of having a personal computer, it was necessary to access information from the printed page at a central location of printed materials. These are commonly called libraries. And, in this particular sense, personal computers are really just a modern extension of these printed storehouses. And this is the irony – the invention that propelled us into the information age is the printing press, and the printed page is rapidly becoming obsolete. Documents are now created, edited, sent and stored electronically. After all, aren’t you reading this blog?

So, what is my point?

Technology is not new… only new technology is new.

What I really want to explore is the reaction of Christianity to technology. I have seen Christians for many years cast a suspicious eye toward new technology - and sometimes toward anything new; i.e. music, fashion. Is this legitimate? Are we spiritually justified in rejecting new technology?

These answers may not come as easily as the answers to my earlier questions.

I Love Technology

Meet George Jetson

The other night, I was up much later than I should have been and the TV was on. An old silent movie came on and I watched it for a few minutes. It made me think about how amazing it must have been for people to go to the first “talkies”, where sound was introduced to the moving images

When I was a kid, I used to watch a TV cartoon titled “The Jetsons”. It was about a space age family living in outer space. They zipped around in personal spaceships to go to the grocery store or to work. Rosie, their robot maid took care of all the housekeeping duties. One of their household devices was a TV phone. It worked like a regular telephone, except you could see the person you were talking with on a live TV screen. Sometimes, they would wear masks to improve the way they looked to the other caller; especially if they just got out of bed.

I can’t help but think of the Jetsons when I use the webcam to skype a video call, as I did with Jamie a few days ago.

And what about those Star Trek communicators? How much more could they be like a Nextel cell phone? They even flip open.

So, fantasy eventually became reality. We knew how we wanted technology to serves us before we knew how to do it.

I’m pretty sure that keyboards will be obsolete before too long. They are already on their way out with phones. And as far as computer screens go – at some point people will look back at these flat 2 dimensional screens and shake their heads the way we now do at typewriters. What we want are the holographic interactive projections like you see in the IRONMAN movie.

Then I started to think backwards to when technology first started to impact us. And by “us”, I mean humans.

In my opinion, the advanced technology as we know it can be traced back to a single invention. There is an irony to its pivotal position in history.

Do you think you know what it is? It’s not the computer, by the way. Come on, give me a break.

Anyway, I’ll give you my answer in the next post.

Well, not my next post...but the one after

Tools Of The Trade

Tools are nothing more than pieces of metal, wood or other components assembled into a practical instrument that is meant to be only a means to an end.

Carpentry and woodworking tools span a wide variety from hammers and chisels to power saws and nail guns.

In the many years I have spent in woodworking, I have acquired an abundance of tools. In the more recent years, I have been able to cling to a set of proper tools, that through those years of experience, I have come to regard as the best for doing things right. Along the way, the cheap, poorly made, imprecise and trendy have given way to the strong, reliable, durable and dependable tools that belong in my tool belt and in my pickup truck.

Some people are tool freaks. They obsess about every detail of every tool they own, or want to own. It is usually enough for them to own the tools. They never really need to use them. There are others who make their living with their tools. Owning tools is not a hobby for them; they know the value of accomplishing the task at hand - whether it be building a house or doing a brake job. The tools will get them there.

People who spend their lives working with their hands develop an affinity to their tools. There is an unspoken respect among craftsman and mechanics regarding the sanctity of their tools. You NEVER borrow someone’s tools without asking, and usually you shouldn’t even ask. You just don’t use another person’s tools unless they offer.

While working construction, I once returned to the job after lunch to discover that the homeowner had removed my wood chisel from my tool belt and used it to chip off some excess concrete from the foundation walls. I was so shocked I was speechless. The guys working with me at the time credited me with exceptional restraint.

One of the workhorse tools for any carpenter is a circular saw. I’ve owned a number of them. After years of experience with a variety of makes and models, I finally invested in a saw that has served me well. It has all the features I require and none of the gimmicks I don’t. I have become accustomed to the feel and balance of it in my hand. I know exactly where the blade will track and how to set the angle. It has been with me on rooftops cutting jack rafters and in the shop cutting cabinet panels.

Tonight, I went to put my saw in the truck for a job in the morning. It was gone. Someone stole it. There was a break in at our office a few weeks ago and I didn’t remember at the time that my saw was there. So tonight, when I went to retrieve it, there was the sinking feeling of discovering that it had been stolen.

Of at least one thing I can be sure – the thief will never appreciate or understand how hard I worked for that saw… or how hard it worked for me.

2 B or not 2 B

How often do you really need to use the number 2 on your phone? Or the letters A, B or C when texting?

Maybe you are one of those people that can say, “I never text”, or, “I don’t make phone calls, I only receive them.” If this describes you, then I have the phone for you – mine.

To be fair, that’s not exactly true of my phone. Sometimes it works. In a way, that makes it even more frustrating. Because this is an intermittent flaw, I can be relatively assured it will only happen when I am in a hurry or need it most. It doesn’t help that the number I probably call the most (my wife) is number 2 on my speed dial.

The last month or so, I have come to realize the value of texting. I used to be a texting naysayer. “Don’t text someone”, I would tell my wife, “just call them. We pay for every text, but the calls are free.” Well, I have learned it can be a pretty efficient way for me to communicate with my drivers. While driving, they don’t have to answer the phone. They can wait until they stop to read the text. Of course, I can’t always be certain they have gotten the message unless they reply. So, there is that risk.

I suppose I will need to go phone shopping in the near future. Having already taken a couple of trial runs at this, it might be less challenging to endure a phone with a faulty 2 key. Despite what is told to me by the cell phone experts at the store, I think I know what I need my phone to do, and consequently, what it doesn’t need to do. Nevertheless, each cell phone sales person knows what they want their own phone to do and all the features they seem confident I will want as well.

So, I predict I will ultimately come away with a very nice phone capable of performing a multitude of impressive and highly useful functions that I will never use.

For now, a functioning number 2 key would impress me.

Do You Hear Thunder?

I have chosen to interrupt my comments on technology in this generation to mention something interesting from church last night.

Our church is currently involved in a 12 month program to strengthen marriages and families. Author and speaker Dr. Gary Smalley is part of the team pioneering this program. Last night, Gary spoke at the service. He related the following:

There was a time, years ago, when he was researching family dynamics. He would observe families that seemed to have a particularly strong bond and ask to interview them. The hope was that he could identify some common denominator among strongly united families that could be passed on to others as a method or component to strengthen any family. To his surprise, he got the exact same answer from every family that he interviewed. Gary thought the key might be praying together or eating meals together or worshipping together. Nope. The answer every family gave him was, “camping”.

Gary and his family decided, since this was something they had never done, they needed to give it a try. Up till this point, their concept of camping was staying at a Holiday Inn without a pool. He proceeded to tell the detailed story of a miserable first-time family camping experience. Severe weather, sand everywhere, sand in their bed, sand in their food, etc. In conclusion, he arrived at the definition of camping as scheduled disaster.

True camping is, for some, the deliberate abandonment of comfort. I prefer to think of the experience as an exchange rather than deprivation. Conveniences should be left behind, but you gain the opportunity to challenge your wit and resolve. I think the biggest challenge is to react to your environment, rather than finding ways to isolate yourself from it. This is all part of the reason I enjoy travelling by motorcycle. The experience of travelling by auto is moving along in an isolated, temperature controlled bubble. On a motorcycle, you are part of the environment you are passing through. There is an exchange of comfort, to be sure. But, I digress… back to camping.

I guess this post is about technology, in a way. When you go camping, especially backpacking, you can’t rely on electronic technology for communication, entertainment or even relaxation. As families go, the question becomes, “Can I relate to my children without a TV or a computer in the room?” Am I able to relax without sitting in front of the TV? And, of course, the big one, “How do I deal with being uncomfortable?”

Some of the most miserable times I’ve experienced have been while camping. But, I would never want to lose the incredible times I’ve had while camping with family and friends or the times I’ve had backpacking with my sons.

I suppose camping isn’t for everyone. I only hope that for those who never find a way to enjoy it, they can find something else to challenge them…something they can do with others that pushes them outside of their comfort zone and can create bonds that last a lifetime.

An Army of One

Leonardo da Vinci understood the overlap of disciplines. Nothing stands alone. Science cannot be isolated from philosophy or theology. Reciprocally, because the Cardinals of the Catholic Church destroyed much of his work, it would be fair to say that theology (or at least religion) has affected science.

Da Vinci’s extensive and brilliant studies of human anatomy gave birth to ideas of artificial joints and systems of hydraulics. His concepts are still relied upon today as fundamental patterns for articulated movement. Very recently, cardiologists have realized that his observation of the “twisting” heart (the motion of a healthy heart while regularly contracting) is important to understand in treating the heart muscle.

Part of his brilliance is his ability to go way beyond observation. For him, observing, chronicling and drawing anatomy was not the end, it was barely the beginning. He questioned, “Is there a way to take an entirely different set of materials and components and construct something that can imitate the complex movement of an elbow or a shoulder?”

500 years ago, the Catholic Church saw his studies as a threat, an affront to the beauty of creation. He was regarded as a necromancer with a desire to build a mechanical (or artificial) man. This was theological heresy. A man could not be allowed to create man because then he would be making himself out to be a god.

Advanced technology threatened the core theological values of the day. And this is my point.

The clash of spirituality with present cultural trends is really nothing new.

How should we, as 21st century Christians in the western culture, respond to the technology assaulting us faster than we can assimilate it? Ignore it? Embrace it?

Stay tuned to this blog for more of my thoughts on this, if you’re interested.

Something About an Ocean

First of all, let me say to those of you who have not given up on my blog and are actually reading this because you keep checking it - Thank you.

My computer completely crashed and is now in the hands of Dell for rebuilding, or whatever they do to make it usable again. Thanks to Pete for dealing with them for me, or it would still be a coffee table decoration.

We just returned from South Carolina to be part of the wedding celebration for Dylan and Lauren. It was a great week. Most of you already know about it, because you were there.

Those of you who know me realize that I am an advocate for new experiences. If you ask my advice on whether or not to try something new or go somewhere you've never been, I generally lean toward going for it. For me, personally, the culinary realm may disqualify me. Nevertheless, when I wanted to ride a motorcycle, I bought one and then learned to ride. I had never been on one till then. I thought sailing might be fun, so I bought a small sailboat, then took it out on the lake. I had never even been on a sailboat. As you might expect, there was a struggle through that learning curve, and some irate people in the swim area, but we always managed to make it back to dry land...eventually.

So, my wife had never been to an ocean. Never even seen one. We decided that this trip to South Carolina was the perfect opportunity for her first experience. For the first time in her life, she saw the ocean. She swam in the ocean.

Today, I sold my motorcycle trailer to a man that is fighting three different kinds of cancer. His desire is to take his motorcycle back to Pensacola Florida so that he can ride the beach one last time. There was a time when he would have made the ride to Florida from Phoenix, now he will have to trailer it. For Richard, he is looking for one final beach experience.

In the course of a single week, I have had the chance to be with two people at opposite ends of their ocean memories. My wife making her first memory, and Richard hoping to make it there for his last.

So whether it's something you've never done or something you want to do one more time... don't put it off too long.

I Got Mine

As part of my continuing education with the Arizona Motor Vehicle Department, I had a course this week in emissions testing.

In order to renew my truck registration, I needed for my truck to pass emissions.

I knew that if the check engine light was on, the vehicle would fail. My check engine light has been on for 6 months. I had Chet (my mechanic in Wisconsin) check it out one day last December when it was about 15 below outside. He said, "Oh, there's probably just some sensor froze up. Don't worry about it." I didn't.

Since I had to renew my Arizona plate by July 1, I knew I had to have an Arizona mechanic take a look. The "check engine" light cure started out costing $309., then climbed to $440. and finally topped out at $518. by the time I drove away.

Now, I was free to pay the $30. testing fee, and if I pass, finally renew my regisration for an additional $150.

My final word of advice - If your check engine light comes on, be afraid... be very afraid

May The Circle Be Unbroken

My wedding ring broke on Friday.

Over the years, my ring has gotten pretty beat up. It's never round and the finish is all worn off. Once, I lost one of the diamond chips at a construction site.

It finally wore so thin that it just gave out.

At a wedding, they almost always mention the significance of the rings. They are a symbol...and a metaphor, I guess. Not so much of our love, but of our marriage. My ring went everywhere I went. It weathered nasty working conditions and was along for the ride on plenty of fun times as I travelled all over the country and even other parts of the world. The ring has been a partner to me through all these things.

I'm not delusional. I know the difference between my wife and my wedding ring. I'm just saying that, over the years, that ring has gone through a lot, but it's always been with me. Our marriage has been through a lot, too. But, unlike my ring, instead of wearing thin and approaching the point of giving out...we're getting stronger and even more tightly bound together.

I like my ring. I need to get it fixed.

Biblical Proportions

I'm feeling pretty fortunate to have missed the effects of one of the lesser known biblical plagues. Here I am observing the remnants of The Plague of Arrows.

Alternate Caption: "Cupid is really mad"

Alternate Alternate Caption: "Legolas!...I thought you were an elf"

Look Me In The Eye

I finished reading this book yesterday. John Elder Robison, the author, grew up with undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome. It wasn't until he was forty years old, that his friend was able to point it out to him.

Aspergers falls within the spectrum of autism and is indicated by someone whose social skills may be very slow to develop, while other areas of their brain develop so rapidly and intensely that they are sometimes regarded as savants.

Many books have been written about autism and Aspergers, but the thing I like about this one is that it is written by someone who grew up with the condition and didn't know why he was different.

Actually, the book is about much more than just Aspergers. It challenges us to consider how we perceive others, how we develop our own self image and tolerance toward others who do not process the world around them the same way we do.

But besides all of this... the book is funny. Robison has a unique sense of humor and is a masterful storyteller with stories to tell.

Because John Robison is about my same age, I share an affinity to the time period in which he grew up. I can relate to his references of the Vietnam war, the rock groups, and the American culture of his childhood. Maybe these things helped me appreciate the book, but I would recommend it based on the universal need we share to understand one another and appreciate that we are gloriously different.

Don't Knock Opportunity

A couple of days ago, one of our truck drivers gave his two weeks notice. We posted an ad on craigslist for a driver.
Within 2 days, I had 58 resumes.
I have heard of other businesses posting ads and receiving 400 resumes - and that was for part-time work.
There is a challenge involved in trying to make a good hire. Some people that are well qualified, don't seem to have the personality or character that make me feel confident about being able to work with them. For the kind of truck driver we need, there will be times of frustration and aggravation in dealing with the Ports in California. I need someone who will work with me, not against me during those times.
Then, there are other candidates who may not be as highly qualified or experienced, but have an attitude of positive cooperation and elements of personal character that are desirable.
In discussing this with my brother, the owner of the company, his opinion is, "Hire attitude over aptitude". You can train people in skills, but as an employer, you won't change their character or attitude.
The other challenging element is the difficulty of assessing the merits of an individual sitting in your office for a few minutes who, as an employee will be doing their job day after day out of sight, hundreds of miles away. And even if they start out well...how will they perform after a few months?
My Mother has a saying about this.
"A new broom sweeps clean"
Well, we need that broom.

The Replacement

Last night, while watching the Nascar race on TV, which was actually taking place in Phoenix, I discovered that John Madden has retired from broadcasting.

First of all, let me say that I actually liked John Madden in the booth. He understood football, and yet avoided becoming so technical about it that you felt it was being played by mechanical bulls and statistics. He once observed the usually dapper Tom Landry coaching on the sidelines and said. “Don’t you think his pants look a little baggy?” I laughed out loud, because the exact same thought was crossing my mind at that moment.

Back to the dilemma - Who will Al Michaels recruit as his football broadcasting partner?
Having given this some thought, it needs to be someone to balance Al’s somewhat intellectual and dry play by play. It should be someone who knows the game from the inside (unlike Al), probably a former coach or player with a sense of humor but not a buffoon or the class clown.

I have some suggestions:

Frank Calliendo:
He does a pretty good Madden imitation
Matt Millen:
He knows the broadcasting business, he’s a former player, but wait… he also needs to know football… too bad
Ted Thompson:
Once again, as I said… needs to know football. Also, he already has a job. Someone please make him an offer he can’t refuse.
O.J. Simpson:
Oh, that’s right… now he is in jail.
Dennis Miller:
They tried this and it didn’t really work. Maybe Conan, or Jay, or Jimmy Kimmel. No, I don’t think so.
Brett Favre:
I actually think this would be my real choice. He definitely knows the game… is well liked and has a good sense of humor. Plus we could still watch him every week.

NassCar

Well, Cathy is still job hunting. Even though she has been diligently applying to numerous places, there has been little return for her effort thus far.

Her mobility has also been limited due to the fact that we have both been sharing the pickup truck for transportation.

Maybe it was time for her to get her own set of wheels. Since the goal is to speed up the job hunting process, she should probably have a fast set of wheels. So, you can see what she brought home. For those of you who may not recognize it - it's the Carl Edwards #99 car.

Come to think of it, she may have taken care of the whole problem. This is not just a used car purchase...it's a career choice. You go, girl!

I just hope she's willing to let me borrow it to run to the store or something.

Good Day for the Canyon

Today, Cathy and I (and Oscar, of course) drove up to Flagstaff after getting a phone call this morning from Annalee saying she would be passing through with her friend, Renee on their way to see the Grand Canyon. Then they travel on to California, where Renee will be starting what sounds like a great job as a river rafting guide.

We were able to enjoy a great meal together. Then we were off to the always mandatory Wal-Mart stop required for every road trip and camping venture. So, here we are in the parking lot just before going our separate ways. We turned south to Phoenix and they turned north to the Canyon.

Renee actually has a really good photo of us all that was taken by our waitress where we ate lunch. It should show up on Facebook sometime.

April Foolery

The April Fools tomfoolery was rampant here yesterday.

Interestingly enough, I was neither an instigator nor a victim this year.

Kelly wins the award for successfully fooling one of the "You can't fool me" recipients - her Dad. By telling him his car, which she had been borrowing had been broken into and everything stolen. Not until she repeatedly asked him if he had left anything of value in the car which might have also been stolen... and finally asking, "...not even any April Fools stuff?"

did she receive that long silent pause on the other end of the phone. Yep, it was too late - there he was hook, line and sinker. Pete, in the background snickering at first, then that outright cruel, evil laugh.

The award for "Most people fooled by a nice sincere person who would never do that sort of thing", goes to Shannon for posting her nonexistent engagement on Facebook. I think relatives are still calling her parents for details on the wedding.

Kelly and Pete were feeling so confident after their early morning success with Larry, that they went on to easily convince Molly that two of her best friends had broken off their engagement (wedding engagements seems to be a theme).

So, Kelly and Pete came over to eat dinner with us. My best April Fool's joke on them was to do nothing at all.

Perhaps April 1 will eventually replace Arbor Day as the favorite American Holiday.

Don't Let This Happen To You

Wayne sent me this photo of a Princeton professor in his office.

I actually think it's pretty frightening.

It made me think of 3 things:
1. What if one of those papers on his desk was mine?...and he was supposed to sign it.
2. How would you like to be the guy who does his taxes?
3. What if the condition of his desk is a reflection of the condition of his mind?

Farmer Tan

I fear I am getting a farmer tan. This has become a bit of a dilemma for me and I am looking for a solution.

Living in Arizona now, I should be able to get a nice even tan. Upon some reflection, I think I realize the essence of my predicament.

All the young hunks can parade around without a shirt and no one seems to mind. Thus, creating the dreamy bronze stud that looks so ruggedly handsome and earthy.

On the other end of the tanned male spectrum are the old retired guys that golf in the morning and spend their afternoons lounging poolside. Thus creating the leathery bronze image of relaxed luxury.

Like the 8th grade, I once again find myself at that awkward age, floundering helplessly somewhere in between what I once was and what I could someday become.

I know an even tan should not be a major consideration to anyone - and some of you are thinking that any exposure to the sun at any time to any degree is careless and wrong, even reckless. OK, now that's starting to sound more like it. Reckless...living on the edge...wildly laughing in the face danger. Maybe I can do this. I will blaze my own trail, venture boldly into the unknown and find a way to free myself from the farmer tan.

I Need a Glass of Milk

It's Girl Scout cookie time.

It happens every year.

Girl Scouts have new sales tactics. When we were kids, the Girl Scouts would simply go door to door in the neighborhood. Everyone would order a couple of boxes. I realize we have all grown wiser and see the dangers in that approach.

Eventually, parents took order forms to their workplace so that co-workers could order cookies without ever even encountering a Girl Scout.

Please understand - I really like the cookies. I even like supporting the scouting program. My boys were scouts (not Girl Scouts) and I'm glad they were.

I encountered Girl Scouts in front of the hardware store, the grocery store, the lumber yard and even at the Harley dealership selling cookies.

As I was driving through the parking lot at the grocery store the other day, I saw a couple of Girl Scouts sitting at a card table by the entrance. A mother, however, was running through the parking lot waving 2 boxes of cookies over her head hawking the cookies. Well, has it really come to this? I guess it has.

Will you...

After thousands of years deep below the earth's crust, under intense pressure and heat, finally a unique rock was formed. Eventually, it was brought closer to the surface through volcanic activity where someone could bring it out of a deep mine.

After travelling across land and ocean from probably half way around the globe, a highly skilled individual carefully cut this rock into a specific design, then polished it and set it into a ring of very precious metal.

My son bought this ring because he wanted to place it on the hand of one very special person.

No longer just a unique rock and precious metal, it has now become a symbol.

Not just a symbol, but a promise.

Congratulations Dylan and Lauren.

OTR Octogenarian

Time to hit the open road.

There's nothing quite like the rumble of a 18 wheeler under your floorboards and the smell of diesel exhaust early in the morning.

Yep. That's my Mom, there. All 85 years young and itching to put the pedal to the metal.

"Breaker, breaker one-nine... we got a grandma crawling up your back door pulling into the Montfort and lookin' to blow your doors off. I guess she'll be runnin' bear bait all the way to Shakey Town"

What with the economic crunch biting us all pretty hard, my brother and I decided it was time to put Mom back to work.

She doesn't really seem to mind and looks pretty happy to be getting some fresh air.

So, Mom, keep the shiny side up and the dirty side down and we'll catch you on the flip-flop.

Do-It-Yourself

As you can see, we have decided to jump on the latest bandwagon of do-it-yourself brain surgery made easy at home.
The kit comes with a tie-on plastic bonnet. Depending on the procedure you have selected, you simply follow the color coded lines to make all the incisions and any necessary extractions.
Of course, as the patient, you may feel terrible and look awful afterward. But, if done properly, you won't care.

Key to the City?

We just moved into a new apartment complex. That means a bunch of new keys. It made me think about how many keys I have to keep. An apartment key, a gate key, the pool key, post office box key, my truck key, toolbox key, office key, bathroom key, cycle key, storage unit key, trailer hitch key, receiver pin key... then I also have to have some fobs... garage door fob, cycle alarm fob and gate fob.

Certain traffic intersections around Phoenix are popular with the homeless and destitute. They stand along the roadway, usually holding a cardboard sign asking for help or a handout. So, the other day, as I was sitting at one of these intersections waiting for the light to change, I am watching one of these men walk along next to the cars, carrying his sign. He is walking toward my truck, but then the light changes, so he turns around to catch the stopped traffic on the cross street. As he turns around to walk away from me, I notice hanging on the back of his belt a big ring of keys. Wait a minute...keys... a bunch of them. Somebody explain this to me. What are all of his keys for?

AZ DMV

Yesterday, I had to go to the Arizona DMV (or MVD, as they refer to it out here) to get my Arizona driver's license.

Things really are different out here.

First of all, when you walk in the door, you are greeted by a friendly, smiling face. Then, they offer you a hot cup of fresh coffee and some homemade cookies. You are ushered to a private office with large comfortable chairs where a staff member helps you fill out all the necessary forms. Everyone is polite and cordial. Then, a photographer with a keen sense of humor and a sharp wit comes in to take the license photo of you, which you have to admit is probably the best portrait of yourself you can remember - suitable for framing. As you exit they hand you a book of coupons for major discounts at all kinds of local businesses.

Yeah, right... Come on... Get real... it's the DMV

It's a Dog's Life

I know, I know... we live in Arizona now.

But tonight it was down in the 50s, so we decided to try out the fireplace for the first time.

Oscar had never seen fire in the house before. He was a little curious at first, but once he realized the element of fire also provided the comfort of heat, he knew where to plant himself for the rest of the evening.

Oragami Arma-Dollar-Dillo

When is a dollar not a dollar?
When it's an armadillo.

I think I tried oragami once.

"...tried".
"...once".

After about step 3 of around 412 steps... it isn't that I'm impatient... but, I guess it seemed like the potential satisfaction of successful completion was probably not going to outweigh the frustration involved in getting there.

I gave up.

However, during the few spare minutes my wife had during our 2,000 mile cross country trip, she managed to manipulate this dollar bill into the adorable dashboard figure you see here.

Hey, where did my dollar go?

Turkey Day

Why are these 2 guys smiling?

They just realized that they could fit everything into this crate that will they need for themselves and their wives to live in Turkey for the next ten years.

I spent some time building this crate (which was a little too small) and Larry is shipping it for them overseas at cost, and supplied the crating material.

Later, I had to come back and modify the crate to make it a couple of inches wider so we could get this final side closed up.

Now, the crate is ready to be trucked to California where it will go on a ship bound for Turkey.

These guys and their wives are already there by now, living out of suitcases and waiting for this stuff.

If they all decide to come back here 10 years from now...I wonder if they can fit everything they want to bring back in a crate the same size?

Happy Biceday

Today was Bill's birthday. Everyone in the office loves Bill, as you can tell by the "Silly String Baptism" he received today.

Interestingly, he also wandered around much of the day complaining about his inability to do any real work because he had lost his calculator. Eventually, this afternoon, Larry decided to bring in a treat for everyone - a bowlful of Jello. Amazing as it may seem, Bill's calculator showed up at exactly the same moment.

U-Haul School

Having recently graduated from the U-Haul school of packing and moving, I was finally ready for the final exam.

As it turned out, the final exam was not written, nor was it an oral exam. It was to be practical in the nature of a project:

Pack every possible square inch of capacity in a 6' x 12' enclosed trailer and travel 2,000 miles across the country to a new apartment you rented sight-unseen.

I guess I received a passing grade - which was quite a relief. I really did not want to attend Summer School.

Catastrophic Failure

When you turn on your computer and the screen reads, "Unexpected Error - Catastrophic Failure", you might as well cancel any plans you had for a couple of days - you will be working on a lengthy process of data recovery and restoration. Or, as in my case, dumbfoundedly watching Pete with my hands in my pockets as he spends hours deftly maneuvering the innards of my computer like some techno-surgeon. Gradually, he gets all those renegade bits of data corralled and manages to scold them into orderly submission.

So, as of today, I have my computer back in running order.

Thanks Pete.

Tons of things have happened since my last post. We now live in another part of the country. Phoenix is our new home.

I'll add another post to explain some of the details associated with moving 2000 miles across country to an apartment you've never seen.

As long as the only thing in my life to experience "Catastrophic Failure" is my computer, I guess I should be grateful.