Just signed up for LiveJournal. I'll be posting there for all one of the persons who read my blog. Here's the link: http://el-rakeman.livejournal.com/?s2id=24623901
We'll see how that goes...maybe I'll be ambitious and post at both.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Finally online!
Whoohooo! We finally got high speed internet at the house! No more searching for wireless hotspots to update the blog. As you can probably tell, I don't find them very much. Look for multiple postings soon!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Relaxing in the mountains..er, foothills
Ahh, North Carolina. Why does it feel 20 degrees cooler here than in Lexington? Must be the close proximity of the mountains and the rivers that feed down from them. Or maybe it's the massive abundance of green, leafy trees that overshadow the deck that I'm sitting on as I type. Who cares....I'm just glad it's cooler!
We're in Tryon, NC for the weekend right now. One of my wife's co-workers owns a small house here in the foothills of NC. We jumped in the van yesterday (because it's 5, yes 5! miles inside of NC, and I can't drive the Blue Streak outside of SC unless I'm on business) and drove up. My wife drove and I read a book. Reading is the only way I can avoid "helping out" with the driving duties. I didn't even have to read a map, due to the awesomeness that is GPS. My wife just listened to the voice coming out of the box and we found our way here with no problems...except for the slight detour that I caused by not paying attention to the map on the GPS. But that was easily solved by turning around and getting back on the right road. Once again, GPS rules.
The house is pretty small...any more of us and we'd be tripping over each other as we walk around. The back deck is good sized, extending out about 8 feet from the back of the house, and going the whole length of the back of the house. If you lean over the side, you look down into a stream that runs along behind the house. It's very soothing. Much better than listening to airplanes landing at Columbia International Airport. The next door neighbor even has wireless internet! Ask me how I know. The house is fully furnished; stove, fridge, washer/dryer and all that stuff. The bathroom is just big enough for one person to in and TCB. No sharing the mirror in the morning here! The water's hot, and there's plenty of it. There's one bedroom, and the living room has a pull-out futon.
When we got in yesterday (Friday) and got unloaded, I sat down with my four-year-old and watched The Golden Compass. I've got to be honest...I cheated and read the book when the movie first came out in theaters, so I knew basically what was going to happen. I didn't really like the book, and I didn't really like the movie. They were both just ok. Kinda like The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe...just ok. At least the kids in TGC didn't whine like the babies in TCN. Man, what a bunch of sissies! The thing that got me in TGC was the accents. Normally I can get past most English accents, but this was difficult! I know my kid didn't understand a word they were saying, but she remembered the polar bears! That was the coolest part of the movie. Armored bears stomping around squashing evil doers like bugs. Awesome! After that was over, I perused the selection of movies that was already at the house. From that, I picked out Casino Royale. What a great flick! I'd seen it before, but man, I could watch that movie again and again. And I'll probably watch it tonight. Oh, I forgot to mention...there's no TV. By that, I mean we don't have cable/rabbit ears/satellite. So no local news, weather or anything like that.
After the movies we went to Sidestreet Pizza in Tryon. Excellent pizza. In fact, I've got about half of the one we ordered last night in the fridge. Guess what I'm eating for dinner tonight? In addition to pizza, they do subs and general Italian food, i.e. lasagna, pasta etc. By the time we left, about 7-7:30, the place was packed and people were waiting for tables. Since we parked about a quarter mile away, we walked the downtown area and checked out all the shops that were closed. And then we had to find a place that sold shorts, cuz I forgot mine at home. We found a Dollar General in Landrum (SC), and I bought a pair of sleep pants from a very inquisitive clerk. Since I'm outta state, and because I try not to panic the locals, I was wearing my black biker shirt over my shoulder holster. Well, the shirt is black with two flaming choppers on the front, and I get a lot of looks when I wear it. This guy just had to know where I got it, how much and all that other stuff. In reality, my wife won it at some bar we were at when we used to ride a lot. It was way too big for her, so I just took it. I don't think the guy believed us.
We all slept like logs last night, and when we got up this morning it was nice and cool. Oh yeah, there's no A/C in the house. Didn't matter cuz it was 60 degrees. I fixed bacon and egg tacos for breakfast, and we decided to go to Pearson's Falls. Since everything's so close, we were there right after they opened at 10am. After parking the van, and ignoring the No Concealed Weapons signs, we headed up the trail. It was a quarter mile, uphill to the falls. The four year old almost ran the whole way, exclaiming "I see the water!" everytime she saw the river. Which was every turn. The trail up was very easy...it's a trail, maintained by volunteers. It's even got handrails and steps. Easy. When we got to the top, my daughter said, "We came all that way for a big water fountain?". But at least the butterflies were cool.
Coming down was as easy as going up, and we decided to go see the horse show that was going on this weekend. My daughter was all excited about riding horses, until we explained that we were going to watch the horses, not ride them. Letdown number 2. She was pleased with the butterflies, though. Oh yeah, they had a park she could play in, and another river to watch. I think it was the same river, different location. She didn't care. After the park, we decided to get some Bar-b-que for lunch. Off we go to Landrum again, to Southside Smokehouse and Grille. The picture in the magazine made it look really good, and when we got out of the van, it smelled really good. Maybe I was just really hungry. The meat was dry. The pork, the chicken and the sausage...all dry. There were less than a dozen folks in there at NOON. Four of those people were waitstaff. To make it short, I was not impressed. The butterflies were nice, though.
We're in Tryon, NC for the weekend right now. One of my wife's co-workers owns a small house here in the foothills of NC. We jumped in the van yesterday (because it's 5, yes 5! miles inside of NC, and I can't drive the Blue Streak outside of SC unless I'm on business) and drove up. My wife drove and I read a book. Reading is the only way I can avoid "helping out" with the driving duties. I didn't even have to read a map, due to the awesomeness that is GPS. My wife just listened to the voice coming out of the box and we found our way here with no problems...except for the slight detour that I caused by not paying attention to the map on the GPS. But that was easily solved by turning around and getting back on the right road. Once again, GPS rules.
The house is pretty small...any more of us and we'd be tripping over each other as we walk around. The back deck is good sized, extending out about 8 feet from the back of the house, and going the whole length of the back of the house. If you lean over the side, you look down into a stream that runs along behind the house. It's very soothing. Much better than listening to airplanes landing at Columbia International Airport. The next door neighbor even has wireless internet! Ask me how I know. The house is fully furnished; stove, fridge, washer/dryer and all that stuff. The bathroom is just big enough for one person to in and TCB. No sharing the mirror in the morning here! The water's hot, and there's plenty of it. There's one bedroom, and the living room has a pull-out futon.
When we got in yesterday (Friday) and got unloaded, I sat down with my four-year-old and watched The Golden Compass. I've got to be honest...I cheated and read the book when the movie first came out in theaters, so I knew basically what was going to happen. I didn't really like the book, and I didn't really like the movie. They were both just ok. Kinda like The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe...just ok. At least the kids in TGC didn't whine like the babies in TCN. Man, what a bunch of sissies! The thing that got me in TGC was the accents. Normally I can get past most English accents, but this was difficult! I know my kid didn't understand a word they were saying, but she remembered the polar bears! That was the coolest part of the movie. Armored bears stomping around squashing evil doers like bugs. Awesome! After that was over, I perused the selection of movies that was already at the house. From that, I picked out Casino Royale. What a great flick! I'd seen it before, but man, I could watch that movie again and again. And I'll probably watch it tonight. Oh, I forgot to mention...there's no TV. By that, I mean we don't have cable/rabbit ears/satellite. So no local news, weather or anything like that.
After the movies we went to Sidestreet Pizza in Tryon. Excellent pizza. In fact, I've got about half of the one we ordered last night in the fridge. Guess what I'm eating for dinner tonight? In addition to pizza, they do subs and general Italian food, i.e. lasagna, pasta etc. By the time we left, about 7-7:30, the place was packed and people were waiting for tables. Since we parked about a quarter mile away, we walked the downtown area and checked out all the shops that were closed. And then we had to find a place that sold shorts, cuz I forgot mine at home. We found a Dollar General in Landrum (SC), and I bought a pair of sleep pants from a very inquisitive clerk. Since I'm outta state, and because I try not to panic the locals, I was wearing my black biker shirt over my shoulder holster. Well, the shirt is black with two flaming choppers on the front, and I get a lot of looks when I wear it. This guy just had to know where I got it, how much and all that other stuff. In reality, my wife won it at some bar we were at when we used to ride a lot. It was way too big for her, so I just took it. I don't think the guy believed us.
We all slept like logs last night, and when we got up this morning it was nice and cool. Oh yeah, there's no A/C in the house. Didn't matter cuz it was 60 degrees. I fixed bacon and egg tacos for breakfast, and we decided to go to Pearson's Falls. Since everything's so close, we were there right after they opened at 10am. After parking the van, and ignoring the No Concealed Weapons signs, we headed up the trail. It was a quarter mile, uphill to the falls. The four year old almost ran the whole way, exclaiming "I see the water!" everytime she saw the river. Which was every turn. The trail up was very easy...it's a trail, maintained by volunteers. It's even got handrails and steps. Easy. When we got to the top, my daughter said, "We came all that way for a big water fountain?". But at least the butterflies were cool.
Coming down was as easy as going up, and we decided to go see the horse show that was going on this weekend. My daughter was all excited about riding horses, until we explained that we were going to watch the horses, not ride them. Letdown number 2. She was pleased with the butterflies, though. Oh yeah, they had a park she could play in, and another river to watch. I think it was the same river, different location. She didn't care. After the park, we decided to get some Bar-b-que for lunch. Off we go to Landrum again, to Southside Smokehouse and Grille. The picture in the magazine made it look really good, and when we got out of the van, it smelled really good. Maybe I was just really hungry. The meat was dry. The pork, the chicken and the sausage...all dry. There were less than a dozen folks in there at NOON. Four of those people were waitstaff. To make it short, I was not impressed. The butterflies were nice, though.
Monday, April 28, 2008
McCrone, Day 5, 5.5, 6....what, huh?
Day Five of PLM at McCrone started much the way the previous four had…except I had to haul all of my luggage over to the parking garage and load up my car. The street that the hotel is on is a one-way affair, and the openings for cars to get in and load up are not openings…they are an OPENING (singular). And it’s next to a bus stop. So I actually began the day on Thursday night by taking stuff I really didn’t need over to the car. In the rain.
Checkout was simple. Gave’em my room number and they said I was good to go. Got my parking violated, I mean validated and I was on my way to the garage. As I went to pay my parking, I noticed that the machine didn’t take Discover. What an interesting discovery. Luckily I had my handy-dandy Visa. $95 later, I was pulling out of my space and onto class. Traffic was light and I didn’t have to use the siren or anything. I’ve got some pictures of the Institute itself, but not anywhere near a computer, so that’ll have to wait.
Friday was sample prep day. Don’t ask me why the last day of the course is the first time we learn how to make slides. It’s not my course. But it was informative and interesting. I made some cross-sections of fibers, and learned that having a good stereo ‘scope and a sharp razor can do some good! Around noon, we called it a day and everyone headed out, almost all to the airport. Not me….I was hitting the road in the Blue Streak. Traffic was really light until I hit the second tool, I mean toll plaza. The attendant in my lane closed it down three cars ahead of me. I think the car that was in the lane broke down, cuz there was a butt-load of fluid underneath it. As I waited for a break in the line that was steadily building beside me, I pondered what would cause someone to leave their car in the toll plaza and not try to move it off to the side where the plaza was closed? Ahhh, far be it from me to try and apply common sense to the situation. Eventually I made it through the plaza and was steaming forth into
The drive south on I-65 was as eventful as 200 miles of open, flat farmland can be. I made it through
Stuff got: a really good class on PLM, appreciation for mid-sized towns, respect for
Thursday, April 24, 2008
McCrone, Day....4? Yeah, 4
Welcome to Thursday! Class was good today, we started by looking at the rest of our natural fibers and using the PLM to characterize them. Then we got some unknowns. My slide had 4 unknowns on it, two fibers and two minerals. Fibers are cool. Minerals suck-ee. I finally figured out what they were, but it took me a while. Plus I had to find the dang things. And lots of minerals look alike, so if you try to compare them, you lose whichever rock you were looking at to compare! The coolest thing we did today was microchemistry. Basically it's chemical tests on a microscope slide. Very neat!
Tomorrow's the last day, but at least it's not a full day. That would truly suck, having to leave here the same time everyone else in the city is. And on a Friday. Hopefully by the time 5pm rolls around here, I'll be in Kentucky. Headed back to SC and ground that I'm comfortable on. Not that Chicago hasn't been fun. I've walked up and down the same streets for four days and I still see things that I didn't see the day before. Shops, restaurants and alleys. There's just so much to do.
Well, I said yesterday and the day before that I'd post some pictures, so here they are:
You can't see it, but my hotel is on the other side of the Starbucks. The awning is right under the American flag. Both streets in this picture (and most in the downtown area) are one way. Guess which way my car is? That's right, off to the left, down another one-way street and three floors up. Guess how many cars will be parked out in front of the hotel tomorrow morning waiting on people to check out and leave? Bunches.
If you turned around to face the other way and walked down a couple of blocks, this is what you'd see. It's the Chicago Institute of Art. I don't know any of those people.
I don't think they mean $300/month.
This is Donald Trump's new building. It's right on the river. You can't see it in the picture, but the top's not finished. Kinda like tha Donald's hairdo.
Chicago HD. I was pleasently surprised to see a good amount of bikes on the streets. Lots of riders not wearing helmets. It's your choice, but if I were riding in this city you can bet I'd be wearing one!
It's hard to see, but that says Chicago Police on the side of that boat. I thought about vaulting over the side of the bridge, but I had forgotten to wear my eye patch and puffy shirt. No pirate action for me.
Tomorrow's the last day, but at least it's not a full day. That would truly suck, having to leave here the same time everyone else in the city is. And on a Friday. Hopefully by the time 5pm rolls around here, I'll be in Kentucky. Headed back to SC and ground that I'm comfortable on. Not that Chicago hasn't been fun. I've walked up and down the same streets for four days and I still see things that I didn't see the day before. Shops, restaurants and alleys. There's just so much to do.
Well, I said yesterday and the day before that I'd post some pictures, so here they are:
You can't see it, but my hotel is on the other side of the Starbucks. The awning is right under the American flag. Both streets in this picture (and most in the downtown area) are one way. Guess which way my car is? That's right, off to the left, down another one-way street and three floors up. Guess how many cars will be parked out in front of the hotel tomorrow morning waiting on people to check out and leave? Bunches.
If you turned around to face the other way and walked down a couple of blocks, this is what you'd see. It's the Chicago Institute of Art. I don't know any of those people.
I don't think they mean $300/month.
This is Donald Trump's new building. It's right on the river. You can't see it in the picture, but the top's not finished. Kinda like tha Donald's hairdo.
Chicago HD. I was pleasently surprised to see a good amount of bikes on the streets. Lots of riders not wearing helmets. It's your choice, but if I were riding in this city you can bet I'd be wearing one!
It's hard to see, but that says Chicago Police on the side of that boat. I thought about vaulting over the side of the bridge, but I had forgotten to wear my eye patch and puffy shirt. No pirate action for me.This is the video I took on State Street, near Wacker (I think). Yeah, Wacker Blvd. I can't make this stuff up. I don't know who those girls whose voices you hear in the video are, but as soon as I was done shooting the video, I tossed them off the bridge. And there was no Police boat around to save them!
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