Random thoughts

• It makes no sense to me whatsoever for people to bash Windows, or OS X, or Linux.  They are operating systems.
• My daughter is so smart I just can’t even believe it sometimes.  Makes he sad for all the dumb kids out there.
• I said it before, and I’ll say it again -  MSSQL is an excellent database platform.
• I’d forgotten  how much I really love golf.
• I should have gone with Sakha from the beginning.  Great lesson, if not a tad expensive. 
• My family and friends are so fantastic, sometimes it doesn’t seem fair to everyone else.
• My girlfriend absolutely RULES.  People just don’t get what a crucial part of life a companion is.
• My daughter is so beautiful, I just can’t believe it sometimes.  Makes me sad for all the ugly kids out there.
• Income soon would be very nice.
• I did what I never thought I would do with my health – made an actual lifestyle change.  In two years I completely transformed my life.
• My knees still hurt.
• Whoever ends up getting in on the last round of fundraising is going to feel like they made out like absolute bandits.

 

Porter Valley Country Club

Had to join.  The membership director just made it too good a deal to not, and it is a great club.  The course is in excellent condition, the food is great, they have all kinds of great events (and many for Sydney), and it just looks like a lot of fun.

I’m a snob now.  Cool.

New car for Kelly

Time to switch.  Got a 2008 Lexus ES 350.  Dark Grey, Black leather interior, nav system, etc.  Awesome.  Rides like a dream, plenty of power, and the nav system is awesome – when you are stopped, that is.  The one SERIOUS beef I have with the car is that Lexus has decided that I (or more importantly, a PASSENGER) is not capable of being safe, and does not allow input into the nav system while the car is in motion.  There is a whole movement afoot to try and change this.

Yes, there is a hack available, but it requires wiring changes.  I might have to do it.

Bachelor Party

For David.  Ouch.  Here are all the details, just in case David’s fiancee or my girlfriend, or Kent’s wife are reading:

It started off with some lighthearted joking over a couple of sprites and a good meal on Friday night.  We talked for a while about how in love David is, and how happy he is to be getting married.  Everyone agreed that we all crave the same thing – and just want to stay as far away as possible from women with “morally casual attitudes.”  Then we headed out for some fun - gambling!  We played some $2 blackjack and watched some folks play craps (just seems to expensive to get involved in), and before we knew it, it was 11pm!  Time for bed – we had a big day tomorrow.

We got up around 8am (like I said – we had a lot to do!) and had a nice healthy breakfast down at the coffee shop.  We’d heard that the food was OUTSTANDING there, and we weren’t disappointed!  Then it was off to do some shopping for the girlfriends and wives.  We labored over tough choices (shoes, tops, jewelry), giving each other advice on what we thought they’d like best.  We got it all done, and in record time – we were back at the hotel by 4pm!  Time for more gambling before dinner.  Kent came out on top, winning $35 before we pulled him away.  I got hurt the most (which is surprising, because everyone knows I’m not much for gambling).  Even after losing $22, I was still up for some fun.  What can I say?  I’m an animal!

So now it was time for a club.  We headed to the Voo Doo Lounge (it was in the hotel – who needs to waste $8 on cabs?) and managed to get in for free because we were staying in the hotel.  What a place!  Great view, and lots of fun people.  The music was a bit loud, but still fun.  I admit that we did spend a fair amount of time explaining to some of the laides there that NO, they could not dance with David – he was getting MARRIED.  Several asked if we had been to a strip club yet – can you believe it?  Right – like we’re going to take a guy who is getting MARRIED to a STRIP CLUB?  What’s next?   Let him drink too much and start gambling with a handful of money?  Yeah – right.

We stepped up to the bar for a cocktail.  Someone suggested shots (again – I’m not much into that) so we said “What the heck!  It’s David’s party!”  We got a round of Red Headed somethingorothers – I don’t recall exactly the name.  Down they went!  Woo hoo!  Then the bill came – talk about a downer.  Over $10 EACH for such a small drink?  I don’t think so.  I asked to see the manager.  I met with a gentleman named “Crusher” (who I thought was the bouncer out front, but I could be wrong) who wouldn’t budge on the price.  I told him we’d pay it, but he could FORGET about us buying anymore – and that we might in fact even LEAVE.  At least he was nice enough to escort us out.

By then we were pretty beat – it was almost midnight, and we had to leave the next morning, so it was off to bed.  Back to the same excellent coffeee shop the next morning, and then on the road.  I think it’s safe to say that te weekend lived up to eveyone’s expectations all the way around – I just hope David made to work OK on Monday! 

Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to fill the laides in on how it all happened.  If any of you guys want more details, feel free to call or email.  Use the “secret” email or address, or call when Pam is at work – I sure don’t want to bore her with more details.

Running a 5k

It was January 7, 2006 – my 40th birthday – that I decided I needed to get into shape.  I was 255 pounds, 33.5% body fat, taking handfuls of medication, and getting steadily worse.  I’m now 219 pounds, 19.5% body fat, taking 3 medications (and insane handfuls of supplements like faxseed oil, Co-Q10, etc), and can do things I couldn’t do since high school.  No – not THAT.  I’ve always been able to do THAT.

The one thing I haven’t done in a long time is run a real race.  I ran a few 10k’s with my buddy Lewis WAY back then, but not since.  Not even an option really.  So in time for my two year anniversary, I’m going to run a 5k, and try and finish respectably in my age division.  Still looking for the right race, but it will need to be in December sometime.  5k is only 3.1 miles – but believe me – that will still be a chore for me.

B.B. King and BFR

Saw B.B. King at the Hollywood Bowl last night.  WOW.  The man is almost 82, and is incredibly entertaining to watch.  Funny.  Talented.  I hope I’m that cool when I’m his age.  Plus he was a pilot.  Speaking of pilot…did my BFR (biennial flight review today).  Went great.  Instrument approaches, steep terms, and Kent actually TRYING to make me yack in the plane.  Fun.

Price dropped on iPhone – are you kidding me?

Like 2 months after I pay $599 for the iPhone, they drop the price to $399?  That BLOWS.  This is now incentive for me to WAIt on EVERYTHING that Apple sells for the price to come down.  The iPod prices don’t come down until a new model is released.  Man!

After hours partying

More completely hysterical (and absolutely accurate) writing from Modern Drunkard Magazine.

Camarillo Airshow

Pam and I decided to head up with Tom and Dory (I THINK that’s how her name is spelled) to the Camarillo Airshow.  Took Tom’s taildragger – which was cool because they let us park in the “classic airplanes” section of the show area, rather than the general parking.

So many planes to see.  All manner of experimentals, light sport, even jets (like my dream plane), were there for drooling over.  Had some food, got sunburned, watched some very cool aerobatics, and talked to a few guys about their experimentals like the one we are building.  All in all, a nice day.  We even got out on the runway before everyone else when it was time to go.

10 years ago

Sunday, August 12, 1997 will be 10 years since I became a father.  The thoughts I have on this are as follows:

• I swear that it was YESTERDAY when she was turning ONE
• The rate at which she gets more adult-like is now accelerating.  Every day she does something that makes me realize that her time being called a child is slipping away quickly.
• She is still just fantastic in every possible regard.  I’m still nervous at every challenge she faces, and yet I know she’ll succeed one way or another.
• I’m still convinced that when boys start coming around, I am indeed going to have to kill at least one of them