Confusing end to my day at work yesterday...about 2pm, my boss decided that he would feel better if a supervisor stuck around to keep an eye on the work they were doing on swing shift. Being low man on the totem pole, I called my wife, and let her know I wouldn't be home until midnight, so she was on her own taking care of dinner for her and the kids. The every-other Friday that I DO work is my early day...an 8-hour shift instead of the 9 we usually do, so I am off at 3:30 instead of 4:30, and that means I usually tell my wife I will take care of dinner on Fridays to give her a break.
Less than an hour into the OT, I was calling her back. A piece of equipment we needed to do our planned work broke, and the scheduled OT folks to operate the equipment were different than the folks that would be needed to fix the equipment. So, I stuck around an another hour or so to make sure were shut-down in a controlled manner, and then I was outie, having given the company two free hours.
Yup...two free hours. At the Shipyard, legally speaking, everything past my 8 hours a day was OT. Realistically speaking, I didn't usually bother to fill out my time card for anything less than half-an-hour, but the option was there. Being a supervisor, most of the time the GS pay scale prevented me from getting time-and-a-half, but, for a while, under the ill-fated National Security Pay System, I was paid time and a half...and that was nice.
At my new job, I am back to not getting time and-a-half. But, with the pay increase I got to come here, it is the equivalent of 358 hours of OT....so, not getting paid 1.5 times is okay...it helps me make the right decision, which is working for comp time. If I am going to spend time away from the family, I can use that time to earn more time with my family.
Then there is another wrinkle though...two of them in fact. The first 7 hours of 'extra time' a week is done for the good of the company. If I work 6 hours extra a week...thanks! 7 hours, then I get rewarded for it. PLUS...that 7 hours has to be done in at least 2 hour chunks...can't do 1 Monday, 1 Tuesday, and then 3 on Friday. So....prior to Friday I had not logged any extra time...meaning I needed a full shift Friday to count for anything.
Oh well...I still made it home in time to sit down for dinner with my family, which I almost messed up. When I called my wife to say I was on the way home, she said she was trying some new egg dish...kind of like a quiche, but using biscuits instead of pie crust. I did some pretty major pouting, because she didn't put any bacon or sausage in it(Lent, you know)...and so I swung through Taco Bell on the way home. The end to my day left frustrated and weak, and I felt I needed something greasy to make me feel better.
Kind of a mistake on my part...I tried some of the stuff my wife made, just to give her my opinion, and it was pretty gosh-darn good. So good that I can't wait to try it someday with some crumbled up sausage in it.
And maybe some gravy to pour on top.
3.12.2011
3.11.2011
8.9
The big news early this morning(complete with streaming video) is the 8.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of Japan last night.
I have a slight personal interest, because some of my former co-workers from PSNS are currently in Japan supporting a refit of the U.S.S George Washington. Due to the wonders of facebook and other forms of instant across the globe communication, reassurances have already been sent out that all PSNS employees are present, accounted for, and shaken but not stirred. So, that is good news for me personally...but not so much for the other people(early reports are 'Hundreds') that are alrady reported missing following the quake and 23-foot tsunami that followed it up. Prayers might not help, but they never hurt.
About 10 years, Western Washington experienced what is referred to as The Nisqually Quake(named after it's epicenter). That quake was rated a 6.8 on the Richter Scale, and due to it's depth, we not as destructive as it coud have been. Even so, it was felt from Portland, Oregon north to Vancouver, BC, and east to Sandpoint, Idaho. It is still used as frame of reference for people in the 'Do you remember what you were doing during the Nisqually Quake'.
The Richter Scale being logrithmic, that means the quake that hit off Japan last night was over 120 times more powerful than what hit in Washington. Somewhat bogles the imagination. I do know, as a frame of reference, that in the book 'The Rift' which deals with the aftermath of a large earthquake on the New Madrid Fault Line, the initial earthquake was an 8.9. So...when writers pick that number to start their tales of woe...you know it's not a good thing.
Precautionary tsunami warnings were called out for Hawaii, and the West Coast of the US. Initial waves that hit the Oregon Coast were in the 7-8 foot range, but when it comes to possible tsunami, it's much better to be safe than sorry.
Sometimes you don't get a do-over.
I have a slight personal interest, because some of my former co-workers from PSNS are currently in Japan supporting a refit of the U.S.S George Washington. Due to the wonders of facebook and other forms of instant across the globe communication, reassurances have already been sent out that all PSNS employees are present, accounted for, and shaken but not stirred. So, that is good news for me personally...but not so much for the other people(early reports are 'Hundreds') that are alrady reported missing following the quake and 23-foot tsunami that followed it up. Prayers might not help, but they never hurt.
About 10 years, Western Washington experienced what is referred to as The Nisqually Quake(named after it's epicenter). That quake was rated a 6.8 on the Richter Scale, and due to it's depth, we not as destructive as it coud have been. Even so, it was felt from Portland, Oregon north to Vancouver, BC, and east to Sandpoint, Idaho. It is still used as frame of reference for people in the 'Do you remember what you were doing during the Nisqually Quake'.
The Richter Scale being logrithmic, that means the quake that hit off Japan last night was over 120 times more powerful than what hit in Washington. Somewhat bogles the imagination. I do know, as a frame of reference, that in the book 'The Rift' which deals with the aftermath of a large earthquake on the New Madrid Fault Line, the initial earthquake was an 8.9. So...when writers pick that number to start their tales of woe...you know it's not a good thing.
Precautionary tsunami warnings were called out for Hawaii, and the West Coast of the US. Initial waves that hit the Oregon Coast were in the 7-8 foot range, but when it comes to possible tsunami, it's much better to be safe than sorry.
Sometimes you don't get a do-over.
3.10.2011
There is no accounting for taste...
Even if it is my taste.
Netflix seems to be adding more and more selections to their 'streaming' lineup...everyday when I flick through there is additional online content, some good, some bad, and some that count as guilty pleasures.
'Xanadu' is one of those guilty pleasures, that was just added this week, much to my wife's displeasure.
I never have, and never will deny that I have somewhat...eclectic tastes. Musically, I like a very wide range of stuff...growing up under my parents influence, I developed a strong liking for the Beatles(but who doesn't like them), The Eagles, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, and a lot of strange stuff you heard on the radio on the early 80's...Air Supply, Journey, Foreigner, Hall and Oats, Huey Lewis....so on. As a teenager, I expanded in the world of hard-rock...AC/DC, Areosmith, KISS, Guns and Roses, but then Garth Brooks made country music too popular to ignore. As a member of two choirs in school, I like most classic music, and jazz(vocal more so than instrumental.)
One of the genres I never developed a huge interest in was disco...but that doesn't stop me from digging the heck out of two cheesy late 70's musicals...Xanadu, and the Bee Gee's/Frampton attempt at Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Watching them both more recently, 'Xanadu' holds up better than Sgt. Peppers...the overwhelming highlight from Sgt. Peppers is Areosmith's version of Come Together.
The overwhelming highlight of 'Xanadu' is anything and everything involving Olivia Newton-John. If my memories are right, between the skin tight outfit she wore at the end of Grease, Physical, and Xanadu....ONJ was probably my first real celebrity crush. If memory serves me right, ONJ was right in the 30-31 range while doing Xanadu, and even watching it now, I don't think she ever looked better. It's not just her looks though...she had an amazingly sweet voice, well-suited for the ready for radio goodness of the songs in Xanadu.
Even more suited than ONJ though, are another set of initials....ELO, or the Electric Light Orchestra, for those of you born to late to appreciate them. For someone who tries to say I don't like disco, I sure do like me some ELO.
The music is certainly the films strong point...story and acting are...well, they are there to give you an excuse for the songs. It's very sad making to point out that this film was the last motion picture that Gene Kelly made, but hey, he did get to dance with Olivia, which is more than I have gotten to do. The fashions...well, they are part of the reason I don't think fondly of the late 70's.
All in all, if you have never seen Xanadu...give it a whirl on instant Netflix...I can't recommend it strongly enough that you should PAY for the DVD...but, if you can track down the soundtrack...that might be worth the money.
Netflix seems to be adding more and more selections to their 'streaming' lineup...everyday when I flick through there is additional online content, some good, some bad, and some that count as guilty pleasures.
'Xanadu' is one of those guilty pleasures, that was just added this week, much to my wife's displeasure.
I never have, and never will deny that I have somewhat...eclectic tastes. Musically, I like a very wide range of stuff...growing up under my parents influence, I developed a strong liking for the Beatles(but who doesn't like them), The Eagles, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, and a lot of strange stuff you heard on the radio on the early 80's...Air Supply, Journey, Foreigner, Hall and Oats, Huey Lewis....so on. As a teenager, I expanded in the world of hard-rock...AC/DC, Areosmith, KISS, Guns and Roses, but then Garth Brooks made country music too popular to ignore. As a member of two choirs in school, I like most classic music, and jazz(vocal more so than instrumental.)
One of the genres I never developed a huge interest in was disco...but that doesn't stop me from digging the heck out of two cheesy late 70's musicals...Xanadu, and the Bee Gee's/Frampton attempt at Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Watching them both more recently, 'Xanadu' holds up better than Sgt. Peppers...the overwhelming highlight from Sgt. Peppers is Areosmith's version of Come Together.
The overwhelming highlight of 'Xanadu' is anything and everything involving Olivia Newton-John. If my memories are right, between the skin tight outfit she wore at the end of Grease, Physical, and Xanadu....ONJ was probably my first real celebrity crush. If memory serves me right, ONJ was right in the 30-31 range while doing Xanadu, and even watching it now, I don't think she ever looked better. It's not just her looks though...she had an amazingly sweet voice, well-suited for the ready for radio goodness of the songs in Xanadu.
Even more suited than ONJ though, are another set of initials....ELO, or the Electric Light Orchestra, for those of you born to late to appreciate them. For someone who tries to say I don't like disco, I sure do like me some ELO.
The music is certainly the films strong point...story and acting are...well, they are there to give you an excuse for the songs. It's very sad making to point out that this film was the last motion picture that Gene Kelly made, but hey, he did get to dance with Olivia, which is more than I have gotten to do. The fashions...well, they are part of the reason I don't think fondly of the late 70's.
All in all, if you have never seen Xanadu...give it a whirl on instant Netflix...I can't recommend it strongly enough that you should PAY for the DVD...but, if you can track down the soundtrack...that might be worth the money.
Horrible things happen in this world every day...
Wish I hadn't hopped on the computer before my shower this morning...then maybe I would have missed this story, and started my day in a different mood:
18 Horrible, disgusting examples of 'humanity' arrested for mulitple gang-rapes of 11 year old girl.
It's possible I might have modified the headline from what the newspaper had.
Yeah...I had to read the story to see what it was about...part of me was hoping that they had their numbers backwards...not that 11 people gang-raping an 18-year old would be even close to a good thing, but it would not be a 'The Human Race is Beyond Saving' thing, either.
Assuming that these accusations are true, painful things beyond the imagination need to happen to these 18 people.
There is also one other person involved in this story that needs some...'upgrading' shall we say?
Some residents said they had seen the 11-year old girl around, dressed provactively, leading to this, the WORST STATEMENT OF THE YEAR(SO FAR):
"Maturity or not I'm pretty sure she knew what she was doing," Robin Smith, 24, a cashier in Cleveland, said as she shopped this week.
NONONNONONONONONONONONONONONONONO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy Crap....what a totally F*$@#ed up thing to say. This in an 11 year old CHILD!!!!!!
As a parent of girls, I am shocked sometimes when I go shopping. Once you get girls out of their toddler years, some stores have very strange ideas of what is 'fashionable'...and there is not a lot of difference between the clothes available for a 5 year old, or a 15 year old. As parents, my wife and I make conscious decisions to buy the most modest clothes we can for both my daughters. These aren't ankle length sack dresses...our daughters wear pants and shirts, and look like little girls...they wear one piece swimsuits in the summer, and not little girls bikini's.
But, I do understand the clothing options that are out there for 11-year old, and how an 11-year old COULD 'dress proactively'. However...it wouldn't matter if she was wearing a sign saying 'Please Gang-Rape me...it's okay, I promise'...SHE IS STILL ONLY 11-YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!
Crap...I am one of the first people out there to put forward the idea that maybe the legal idea of statutory rape(and the labeling of those guilty of as 'Sex Offenders' could use some modification. But, there is a world of difference between 16 year old girls with 19 year old boyfriends, and this.
Hopefully, this is a time for some of that 'Texas Justice' we hear about. If ever some folks just 'needed killing'...it's these guys.
You know...'assuming' they are guilty.
18 Horrible, disgusting examples of 'humanity' arrested for mulitple gang-rapes of 11 year old girl.
It's possible I might have modified the headline from what the newspaper had.
Yeah...I had to read the story to see what it was about...part of me was hoping that they had their numbers backwards...not that 11 people gang-raping an 18-year old would be even close to a good thing, but it would not be a 'The Human Race is Beyond Saving' thing, either.
Assuming that these accusations are true, painful things beyond the imagination need to happen to these 18 people.
There is also one other person involved in this story that needs some...'upgrading' shall we say?
Some residents said they had seen the 11-year old girl around, dressed provactively, leading to this, the WORST STATEMENT OF THE YEAR(SO FAR):
"Maturity or not I'm pretty sure she knew what she was doing," Robin Smith, 24, a cashier in Cleveland, said as she shopped this week.
NONONNONONONONONONONONONONONONONO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy Crap....what a totally F*$@#ed up thing to say. This in an 11 year old CHILD!!!!!!
As a parent of girls, I am shocked sometimes when I go shopping. Once you get girls out of their toddler years, some stores have very strange ideas of what is 'fashionable'...and there is not a lot of difference between the clothes available for a 5 year old, or a 15 year old. As parents, my wife and I make conscious decisions to buy the most modest clothes we can for both my daughters. These aren't ankle length sack dresses...our daughters wear pants and shirts, and look like little girls...they wear one piece swimsuits in the summer, and not little girls bikini's.
But, I do understand the clothing options that are out there for 11-year old, and how an 11-year old COULD 'dress proactively'. However...it wouldn't matter if she was wearing a sign saying 'Please Gang-Rape me...it's okay, I promise'...SHE IS STILL ONLY 11-YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!
Crap...I am one of the first people out there to put forward the idea that maybe the legal idea of statutory rape(and the labeling of those guilty of as 'Sex Offenders' could use some modification. But, there is a world of difference between 16 year old girls with 19 year old boyfriends, and this.
Hopefully, this is a time for some of that 'Texas Justice' we hear about. If ever some folks just 'needed killing'...it's these guys.
You know...'assuming' they are guilty.
3.09.2011
Why didn't you do that in the first place?
There is much outrage in the world today, because in oppressive state known to the rest of us as Wisconsin, the Senate found a way to vote through their bill limiting the collective bargaining rights of most public employees unions. Apparently the quorum rules only apply to bills that spend the states money, so by stripping the 'Collective Bargaining' stuff out of the budget bill, they were able to vote on it without the Democrats. Now, obviously, I have been behind this bill all along, but I still have a question for the Republicans in Wisconsin....
Why did you wait so long??!?!?!?!?!?
Almost three weeks have passed since the Democrats all ran away to avoid a vote on this bill. That has been three weeks of the mostly liberal mainstream media getting to bash the Big Bad Mean Middle Class Hating Republicans. Meanwhile, in a much quieter manner, Ohio and Idaho have passed bills that go further than Wisconsin's proposed bill would go.
Did someone finally just read the fine print there in Wisconsin or did it seem like a good idea to give the Democrats and the media three weeks to start campaigning for 2012 already?
Idiots. If you have the ability to nip something in the bud...do it!
Why did you wait so long??!?!?!?!?!?
Almost three weeks have passed since the Democrats all ran away to avoid a vote on this bill. That has been three weeks of the mostly liberal mainstream media getting to bash the Big Bad Mean Middle Class Hating Republicans. Meanwhile, in a much quieter manner, Ohio and Idaho have passed bills that go further than Wisconsin's proposed bill would go.
Did someone finally just read the fine print there in Wisconsin or did it seem like a good idea to give the Democrats and the media three weeks to start campaigning for 2012 already?
Idiots. If you have the ability to nip something in the bud...do it!
There has been a naming...
It's been almost a week and a half since I first let Cat into the apartment, and allowed him to spend the night. There has been zero indication that anyone is missing Cat....no signs, nothing on craigslist, and no one has responded to the signs(there were two of them, making 'signs' the appropriate term) that I put up. I guess the only thing I haven't done yet is bring him to the vet to see if he has some kind of identification chip implanted in him.
After the first day that I left him alone and we had a few 'misplaced feces' incidents, things have been going very good. He is friendly, and likes AND tolerates the kids. At night he sleeps at the foot of the bed, instead of trying to sleep on my wife's head, like the last cat did. If I could teach him to sit and fetch, you might think he was a dog. I was a little worried about his belly and digestive track at first, but now that he is settled in, there is almond roca in the litter box instead of hershey's kisses. Yay!
Another big behaviorable difference between him and our last cat is his eating habits. Our last cat was a grazer...put out a big bowl of food, and she would work her way through it. We would top it off as needed, and every few days, I would dump out what was left and start from scratch. This guy eats what is put in his bowl, and then meows for more...constantly. He's much more...robust...than our last cat...she was under 5 pounds near the end...this one is in the 12-13 pound range...not obese, but...husky. The wife and I did decide that the time has come to start using a measuring cup to watch what he is eating.
SWMBO was trying to decide if he was a Charlie or a Reuben. I kept digging in and saying his name is Cat...but with all my 'Somebody come forward please' deadlines running out, I have run out of excuses.
So meet Reuben...the newest member of the family:
After the first day that I left him alone and we had a few 'misplaced feces' incidents, things have been going very good. He is friendly, and likes AND tolerates the kids. At night he sleeps at the foot of the bed, instead of trying to sleep on my wife's head, like the last cat did. If I could teach him to sit and fetch, you might think he was a dog. I was a little worried about his belly and digestive track at first, but now that he is settled in, there is almond roca in the litter box instead of hershey's kisses. Yay!
Another big behaviorable difference between him and our last cat is his eating habits. Our last cat was a grazer...put out a big bowl of food, and she would work her way through it. We would top it off as needed, and every few days, I would dump out what was left and start from scratch. This guy eats what is put in his bowl, and then meows for more...constantly. He's much more...robust...than our last cat...she was under 5 pounds near the end...this one is in the 12-13 pound range...not obese, but...husky. The wife and I did decide that the time has come to start using a measuring cup to watch what he is eating.
SWMBO was trying to decide if he was a Charlie or a Reuben. I kept digging in and saying his name is Cat...but with all my 'Somebody come forward please' deadlines running out, I have run out of excuses.
So meet Reuben...the newest member of the family:
3.08.2011
Membership Cards!
Yesterday in the mail, we received our membership cards to the Tri-Cities Shooting Association. There was one card for me, one for SWMBO, and one Junior Member card for our oldest daughter. I showed our older daughter her card, and told her that it meant Mommy and Daddy had talked things over, and that we felt she was old enough to learn to start shooting, if she was interested in it. I'm not going to say she jumped and down, giggling with excitement over the idea, but she is certainly interested, which makes me happy.
In the early years of parenthood, I will confess that I had high(totally unrealistic hopes) that I would have my daughters at the range when they were 6 years old, and make little Annie Oakley's out of them. My wife tempered my expectations somewhat, and pleaded with me to be sensible, and just let things happen when they were ready to happen. As usually has happened, I am glad that I followed her advise.
While the girls have always enjoyed going to gun store with daddy(might have something to do with the fact that I am always happy and cheerful there), the guns themselves didn't seem to interest them. My older daughter was not ready to start shooting at age 6, either physically or maturity wise. At age 7, she was closer physically, but still not ready from a mental standpoint...she wasn't showing enough interest, AND she still did not listen well enough to me, as in...if I tell her 'DON'T MOVE' at the range, I wanted to be confident she WON'T MOVE.
Plus, I was waiting for the proper level of interest to show up. What I am trying to avoid more than anything is pushing too hard, like my dad did trying to get me to like golf. He pushed, and pushed and...well...you understand...now I can't stand golf. Adolescent rebellion is tough to fight.
Most of our gun training up to this point has consisted of 'if you find a gun laying around, don't touch it....just get mommy or daddy', and stressing that this applies at friends houses also, even if your friend just wants to show you something 'neat'.
The last couple of times I have had the guns out for cleaning, the girls have been showing more interest, and so I have been trying to teach them, especially the older one...we have been focusing on the Three Rules, and I have been working on the proper grip with my 8-year old. I think the time is right to bring her shooting for the first time.
I haven't bought any special guns to start her out on. At one point I thought I might pick something up like a Ruger Bearcat single action revolver, or one of those tiny little Cricket .22 rifles, but, the Walther P22 seems to fit in her hand okay, and that seems something simple to start her out on. As far as a rifle...I still have the Marlin Model 700 that was MY first rifle. It doesn't seem much bigger than that Cricket...I'll have her try holding it her at home sometime in the next day or two...if it's too big for her, it's too big. I suppose some folks would think I should get her familiar with a bolt-action before starting her with a semi...but, it's what I've got, so it's what she should get familiar with.
Not sure when we will go for the first time...if I can fit something in this weekend, great...if it's next weekend, also great. I'm also doing my best to keep my expectations realistic, and PRAYING that I have enough Patience. If can get through one 10-round magazine of the Walther with no tears...VICTORY. My goal is to keep her wanting more, instead of burning her out.
Is it the weekend yet?!!?!?!
In the early years of parenthood, I will confess that I had high(totally unrealistic hopes) that I would have my daughters at the range when they were 6 years old, and make little Annie Oakley's out of them. My wife tempered my expectations somewhat, and pleaded with me to be sensible, and just let things happen when they were ready to happen. As usually has happened, I am glad that I followed her advise.
While the girls have always enjoyed going to gun store with daddy(might have something to do with the fact that I am always happy and cheerful there), the guns themselves didn't seem to interest them. My older daughter was not ready to start shooting at age 6, either physically or maturity wise. At age 7, she was closer physically, but still not ready from a mental standpoint...she wasn't showing enough interest, AND she still did not listen well enough to me, as in...if I tell her 'DON'T MOVE' at the range, I wanted to be confident she WON'T MOVE.
Plus, I was waiting for the proper level of interest to show up. What I am trying to avoid more than anything is pushing too hard, like my dad did trying to get me to like golf. He pushed, and pushed and...well...you understand...now I can't stand golf. Adolescent rebellion is tough to fight.
Most of our gun training up to this point has consisted of 'if you find a gun laying around, don't touch it....just get mommy or daddy', and stressing that this applies at friends houses also, even if your friend just wants to show you something 'neat'.
The last couple of times I have had the guns out for cleaning, the girls have been showing more interest, and so I have been trying to teach them, especially the older one...we have been focusing on the Three Rules, and I have been working on the proper grip with my 8-year old. I think the time is right to bring her shooting for the first time.
I haven't bought any special guns to start her out on. At one point I thought I might pick something up like a Ruger Bearcat single action revolver, or one of those tiny little Cricket .22 rifles, but, the Walther P22 seems to fit in her hand okay, and that seems something simple to start her out on. As far as a rifle...I still have the Marlin Model 700 that was MY first rifle. It doesn't seem much bigger than that Cricket...I'll have her try holding it her at home sometime in the next day or two...if it's too big for her, it's too big. I suppose some folks would think I should get her familiar with a bolt-action before starting her with a semi...but, it's what I've got, so it's what she should get familiar with.
Not sure when we will go for the first time...if I can fit something in this weekend, great...if it's next weekend, also great. I'm also doing my best to keep my expectations realistic, and PRAYING that I have enough Patience. If can get through one 10-round magazine of the Walther with no tears...VICTORY. My goal is to keep her wanting more, instead of burning her out.
Is it the weekend yet?!!?!?!
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