Another cold day in the Midwest. And the forecast is for more of the same this weekend.
For the cycling enthusiasts out there, the Tour of Qatar is underway in the Mideast desert. Quickstep's Tom Boonen has won three stages in a row, twice besting Ale Jet (Petacchi of Milram) in field-sprint finishes. Check it out on www.cyclingnews.com.
It's a bit funny seeing the few daily post-race photos from Qatar as compared to similar shots from European races. In Qatar, there's maybe a single male in a traditional headdress (keffiyeh or kuffyah or other spelling depending on your Arabic translation), while in Europe you have at least two podium girls, usually with many assets, all over the winners. Not to mention the photo-journalists' shots of other attractions in the crowds. Here in Qatar, you have sand.
They pronounce it, "Cutter", which seems a little crude. The pronunciation reminds me of the cycling cult film, Breaking Away, which was shot mostly in Bloomington, Indiana. The town boys were known as "cutters", a reference to the town's older generation of laborers who worked the stone quarries and "cut" the granite which was used to build the university's buildings.
I was not much of a biking person at the time. But I did think that the college girl in the movie, Robin Douglass was worthy of a second viewing.
Speaking of sand, Tiger is in Dubai this week, another of the Arab Emirates down the Persian Gulf from Qatar. I think Tiger gets like $3 large to show up, and then gets whatever he might win as well. I've seen some pictures of the Dubai golf course from the air, which is like seeing an oasis in the middle of the desert. Duh!
2 and I did lunch at Mac's in downtown Davenport today. Mac's has a rich history in Davenport politics, and St. Patrick's Day. The place has had some ownership changes in recent years, and there was not much of a crowd today. Not bad sandwiches though.
The new Kelly's on 53rd actually has a big digital clock behind the bar that counts down the time for the entire year until St. Pat's Day. Our waitress the last time I was there gave some huge number as the number of customers they get in the place that one day.
Former Governor Vilsack has taken Jim Leach's lead and has signed on as a visiting professor at Drake in DM.
My Russian cleaning lady was through the place yesterday. I had to remind her that there was dust in my laundry room. I think she was a little embarrassed that I had to point that out. She certainly did a great job catching up. Then again, I live by myself. No pets. I'm gone most of the day. I'm rarely in the house, at least not asleep, for more than four hours a day during the week. And I'm a bit anal about the state of the place anyway. It's pretty easy money.
I'm outta here. ACC Wednesday.
Be careful out there.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Tuesday
The day got away from me this afternoon. Too many irons in the fire.
Enjoyed 1's comments. She reports that her 9th grade girls won again today. Still just the single loss for the season. They're going to want her to coach again next year.
Sorry for the lack of creativity tonight. I'm just outta gas.
Be careful out there.
Enjoyed 1's comments. She reports that her 9th grade girls won again today. Still just the single loss for the season. They're going to want her to coach again next year.
Sorry for the lack of creativity tonight. I'm just outta gas.
Be careful out there.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Monday PM
Well, we appear to be back in business with our network. Turns out our back-up system worked, but we needed to by-pass one of the peripheral routers that must have been fried in the power outage on Saturday morning.
We had a cold snap come through over the weekend. Bitter cold going to the game with 2 on Saturday night. I hardly went outside on Sunday. Not quite as bad today.
Big Monday.
The Hawks were awful on Sunday. 4 was in the front row, but I didn't see her. I know Wisconsin is good, but they made Iowa look inept. The announcers were kind in describing Iowa's "rebuilding" squad. Stevie will never be confused with the coaches who don't rebuild, but rather reload. Then again, it is Iowa City, and there is not a long line of Parade All-Americans waiting for their chance to play in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
I finally got on the bike and erg machine over the weekend. It was a long time coming. Now I just have to get some momentum going for the next 60 days to be ready for the outdoors.
My pal Roy and I registered today for the state-required coaching classes through the community college so that he can be a golf coach this year. My roll is to get him to class. I have no plans to coach anything. Ever. The classes will mean that a number of my March evenings will be spoken for. And most will be in Clinton as Roy has travel scheduled for the heart of February when the classes are held in Davenport.
My illness has mostly passed, but I'm not 100% of where I would like to feel. Food still doesn't taste all that good. And Tuscan red is not all that appealling right now either.
Hillary was in town over the weekend. David Broder took a swipe at her in his weekend column for her failure to question the new general in charge of the Iraq when the general appeared before her committee last week. Apparently, rather than ask questions of the general, like other members of the committee, she chose to use her alloted time to give what amounted to be a political speech.
1 had a successful half marathon on Saturday in St. Paul. She and her friend completed the race in under 1.55 which I think is wonderful. She did say it was one of the most poorly run events that she has participated in from an organizational stand point.
2, 3, and 4 seem to be keeping up with some post-holiday season fitness resolutions. February amounts to the "dog days of winter" in maintaining those commitments. Once March, comes, the days get longer and a little warmer, and running outside gets in the equation.
I just did a Wikipedia search on "dog days" and it is mildly interesting. It is a myth that goes back to Roman times when it was thought that heat from the Canis Major star Sirius was partially responsible for the extra warmth in mid-Summer. I was using the term somewhat metaphorically and tongue-in-cheek above as most people do recognize it as a Summer description used when the days get tougher to handle. My personal knowledge would first place it in baseball lore, with the heat, the already long season, and nagging minor injuries all contributing to the challenge of daily games.
Life is like a baseball game. Think of all the terms that are in common usage that come from the game. "The prosecuting attorney through a curve ball at the defense today." "That idea was a home run." "You're playing in the big leagues now, son" "Three strikes and you're out."
I could go on, but I don't want to lose my audience.
Hope everyone has a good week. Remember that written notes of thanks will always be well-received. And buy a friend a cup of coffee this week, just for fun. (If they drink triple-shots of foo-foo stuff, buy the scone instead!)
Be careful out there.
We had a cold snap come through over the weekend. Bitter cold going to the game with 2 on Saturday night. I hardly went outside on Sunday. Not quite as bad today.
Big Monday.
The Hawks were awful on Sunday. 4 was in the front row, but I didn't see her. I know Wisconsin is good, but they made Iowa look inept. The announcers were kind in describing Iowa's "rebuilding" squad. Stevie will never be confused with the coaches who don't rebuild, but rather reload. Then again, it is Iowa City, and there is not a long line of Parade All-Americans waiting for their chance to play in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
I finally got on the bike and erg machine over the weekend. It was a long time coming. Now I just have to get some momentum going for the next 60 days to be ready for the outdoors.
My pal Roy and I registered today for the state-required coaching classes through the community college so that he can be a golf coach this year. My roll is to get him to class. I have no plans to coach anything. Ever. The classes will mean that a number of my March evenings will be spoken for. And most will be in Clinton as Roy has travel scheduled for the heart of February when the classes are held in Davenport.
My illness has mostly passed, but I'm not 100% of where I would like to feel. Food still doesn't taste all that good. And Tuscan red is not all that appealling right now either.
Hillary was in town over the weekend. David Broder took a swipe at her in his weekend column for her failure to question the new general in charge of the Iraq when the general appeared before her committee last week. Apparently, rather than ask questions of the general, like other members of the committee, she chose to use her alloted time to give what amounted to be a political speech.
1 had a successful half marathon on Saturday in St. Paul. She and her friend completed the race in under 1.55 which I think is wonderful. She did say it was one of the most poorly run events that she has participated in from an organizational stand point.
2, 3, and 4 seem to be keeping up with some post-holiday season fitness resolutions. February amounts to the "dog days of winter" in maintaining those commitments. Once March, comes, the days get longer and a little warmer, and running outside gets in the equation.
I just did a Wikipedia search on "dog days" and it is mildly interesting. It is a myth that goes back to Roman times when it was thought that heat from the Canis Major star Sirius was partially responsible for the extra warmth in mid-Summer. I was using the term somewhat metaphorically and tongue-in-cheek above as most people do recognize it as a Summer description used when the days get tougher to handle. My personal knowledge would first place it in baseball lore, with the heat, the already long season, and nagging minor injuries all contributing to the challenge of daily games.
Life is like a baseball game. Think of all the terms that are in common usage that come from the game. "The prosecuting attorney through a curve ball at the defense today." "That idea was a home run." "You're playing in the big leagues now, son" "Three strikes and you're out."
I could go on, but I don't want to lose my audience.
Hope everyone has a good week. Remember that written notes of thanks will always be well-received. And buy a friend a cup of coffee this week, just for fun. (If they drink triple-shots of foo-foo stuff, buy the scone instead!)
Be careful out there.
Monday AM
We have had severe network problems here since early Saturday. There was a power outage in the area and when it came back on, we were unable to get our internal systems operational. It would appear that a couple of our hardware units attached to the server have been fried. We'll know more later today. I hope.
I'll make an entry later today to catch up with the weekend.
I'll make an entry later today to catch up with the weekend.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Friday AM
3 accurately points out that my math was in error for the Wednesday night game. 2 was my companion. Sorry for the mis-direction.
More later
More later
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Thursday
3 can pass on the details from last night's game. Augie won on a buzzer-beater. We were treated like VIPs and had a great time. It's nice to have friends like my pal Roy.
The running commentary in the local press is on the traffic camera systems that the city of Davenport has set up at several locations in the city. For both red light and speed enforcement. Some judge ruled last month that the tickets issued under the camera monitoring system were illegal. The city has been trying to figure out a response. Opinions among the public are widespread, ranging from rational to off-the-wall.
I'm not particularly troubled by the camera system. If it slows some people down, so much the better. I am critical of the city if they didn't have their legal eagles fully research the system in advance of adopting the program. It is more than a little surprising that the company selling the systems didn't have that ground covered beforehand. Then again, even cities need to remember the "buyer beware" rules.
Interestingly, the camera systems are not so much as "purchased" by the city as they are the core element of a partnership established between the system designers/sellers and the municipality. The system designers get the city to allow them to put in the equipment, and then once operational, the designers and the city split the fines collected from violators. Properly installed mechanically, and legally ok, it's a bit like automatically printing money.
Now one of the indirect effects of the traffic camera system that I do find troubling is the expansion of video recording of the general public. Almost any episode of CSI will at some point resort to the images of an ATM or airport security camera, or even one from the mall, and all of a sudden John Doe is center stage. See also, The Bourne Identity. It's always been that way in Vegas. The casinos are watching the customers, the bartenders, the dealers, the pit bosses, and the people who are supposed to be watching all those people. Now they have you on film in the Food Court at Northpark. Which, after the 100 person melee there last weekend, may not ultimately be the worst thing in the world.
As I frequently tell my pal Roy, you're not below radar, bud.
Since I probably won't add much to the blog tomorrow, good luck to 1 on her half this weekend. (I just talked to her. She's a little whiney because of a rush hour traffic jam.)
The DM Registered published the 2007 RAGBRAI route today. It's a north route that ends in Bellevue, which is a normal Sunday morning breakfast stop on the way back from Dubuque on the TOMRV ride in early June. RAGBRAI starts Sunday July 22, so any of the wedding revelers who have an inkling toward the ride will need to beat feet Saturday. Just joking.
Have a good evening.
Be careful out there.
The running commentary in the local press is on the traffic camera systems that the city of Davenport has set up at several locations in the city. For both red light and speed enforcement. Some judge ruled last month that the tickets issued under the camera monitoring system were illegal. The city has been trying to figure out a response. Opinions among the public are widespread, ranging from rational to off-the-wall.
I'm not particularly troubled by the camera system. If it slows some people down, so much the better. I am critical of the city if they didn't have their legal eagles fully research the system in advance of adopting the program. It is more than a little surprising that the company selling the systems didn't have that ground covered beforehand. Then again, even cities need to remember the "buyer beware" rules.
Interestingly, the camera systems are not so much as "purchased" by the city as they are the core element of a partnership established between the system designers/sellers and the municipality. The system designers get the city to allow them to put in the equipment, and then once operational, the designers and the city split the fines collected from violators. Properly installed mechanically, and legally ok, it's a bit like automatically printing money.
Now one of the indirect effects of the traffic camera system that I do find troubling is the expansion of video recording of the general public. Almost any episode of CSI will at some point resort to the images of an ATM or airport security camera, or even one from the mall, and all of a sudden John Doe is center stage. See also, The Bourne Identity. It's always been that way in Vegas. The casinos are watching the customers, the bartenders, the dealers, the pit bosses, and the people who are supposed to be watching all those people. Now they have you on film in the Food Court at Northpark. Which, after the 100 person melee there last weekend, may not ultimately be the worst thing in the world.
As I frequently tell my pal Roy, you're not below radar, bud.
Since I probably won't add much to the blog tomorrow, good luck to 1 on her half this weekend. (I just talked to her. She's a little whiney because of a rush hour traffic jam.)
The DM Registered published the 2007 RAGBRAI route today. It's a north route that ends in Bellevue, which is a normal Sunday morning breakfast stop on the way back from Dubuque on the TOMRV ride in early June. RAGBRAI starts Sunday July 22, so any of the wedding revelers who have an inkling toward the ride will need to beat feet Saturday. Just joking.
Have a good evening.
Be careful out there.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Wednesday
This has been a funny week. My evenings have been congested and will continue to be so. Augie game tonight with my pal Roy and another business dinner tormorrow night.
Lots in the news this week. I have enjoyed the Bears' victory and hope they show up against Indy. Mostly, the media circus preceding The Big Game (not wanting to transgress on any trademarks here) is actually something to avoid. I think that the population of Las Vegas swells to some huge number the weekend of the game. Like it does for the NCAA tournament.
1 has selected the Crowne Plaza in Eagan as the central gathering place for the wedding. It is near the airport and the Mall of America. Looks like a nice place from the pictures on the web.
There was a syndicated column in today's local paper about cabbies in the Twin Cities not taking fares from the airport if there were carrying alcohol. Something about Muslims from Somalia being the predominant nationality of cab drivers in the area. And the Muslims have this thing about, or against, alcohol. Selective discrimination of a sort. Like the pro-life pharmacists who refused to fill prescriptions for the morning-after pill. Interesting dynamics in this country.
I have this little problem with my new Ironman watch. The band has about a dozen holes for the clasp to go through, but the perfect fit for me is a spot in the band right between two of the holes. I either go too loose, or a little too tight. Which raises the question, how much of life is spent trying to fit into pre-selected settings? Arguably, I have the same problem with jeans, belts, shoes, shirts, golf grips, glasses, my telephone headset, my bike, etc., etc., etc. I think we've hit another Sienfeld black hole. Think about how we are all shoe-horned into a life that really doesn't quite fit. We're all a little like OJ and the glove.
Grinell College made the front page of the DM Register this week for substantial planned tuition hikes. I didn't read the entire article, but the gist of it was that the schools who are considered their primary competition had higher costs, so Grinnell needed to match the competition. Say what? Doesn't Grinnell have like a gazillion dollar endowment?
Former Iowa Congressman Jim Leach is taking a three semester job teaching at Princeton. Pretty heady stuff to have your professor in international politics be a guy who was on the frontline of US policy-making. Maybe he'll do some similar work closer to home after Princeton.
So I'm off to my evening stuff. Thanks for reading.
Be careful out there.
Lots in the news this week. I have enjoyed the Bears' victory and hope they show up against Indy. Mostly, the media circus preceding The Big Game (not wanting to transgress on any trademarks here) is actually something to avoid. I think that the population of Las Vegas swells to some huge number the weekend of the game. Like it does for the NCAA tournament.
1 has selected the Crowne Plaza in Eagan as the central gathering place for the wedding. It is near the airport and the Mall of America. Looks like a nice place from the pictures on the web.
There was a syndicated column in today's local paper about cabbies in the Twin Cities not taking fares from the airport if there were carrying alcohol. Something about Muslims from Somalia being the predominant nationality of cab drivers in the area. And the Muslims have this thing about, or against, alcohol. Selective discrimination of a sort. Like the pro-life pharmacists who refused to fill prescriptions for the morning-after pill. Interesting dynamics in this country.
I have this little problem with my new Ironman watch. The band has about a dozen holes for the clasp to go through, but the perfect fit for me is a spot in the band right between two of the holes. I either go too loose, or a little too tight. Which raises the question, how much of life is spent trying to fit into pre-selected settings? Arguably, I have the same problem with jeans, belts, shoes, shirts, golf grips, glasses, my telephone headset, my bike, etc., etc., etc. I think we've hit another Sienfeld black hole. Think about how we are all shoe-horned into a life that really doesn't quite fit. We're all a little like OJ and the glove.
Grinell College made the front page of the DM Register this week for substantial planned tuition hikes. I didn't read the entire article, but the gist of it was that the schools who are considered their primary competition had higher costs, so Grinnell needed to match the competition. Say what? Doesn't Grinnell have like a gazillion dollar endowment?
Former Iowa Congressman Jim Leach is taking a three semester job teaching at Princeton. Pretty heady stuff to have your professor in international politics be a guy who was on the frontline of US policy-making. Maybe he'll do some similar work closer to home after Princeton.
So I'm off to my evening stuff. Thanks for reading.
Be careful out there.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Monday PM
Let's see, I failed to show on Sunday. Sorry. I never got to the office after early coffee. Too much football.
And I need to get away this evening. So I'll do a more reasonable entry tomorrow.
Be careful out there.
And I need to get away this evening. So I'll do a more reasonable entry tomorrow.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Saturday
Not much to report from here. Sunny and cool. The forecast is for snow tomorrow.
3 is back in Chicago for the weekend. 4 has a sorority function in Omaha. 2 may be in recovery from some bad shrimp at the office party yesterday afternoon.
I had an interesting visit yesterday from an ND classmate from Ohio who was in town on businesss. I hadn't seen him in 30 years. He played second base on our baseball team and we were pretty good friends the last couple of years of undergrad school. He went into the Marines after graduation and we saw one another in Virginia a few times in the early '70's when I was stationed at Dover. He now has a software company and he was in town selling software to a company who uses my partner for tax services. He saw my name on our letterhead that was with some financial information shown to him by the client and he made the call. It's truly a small world.
An article in the local paper this AM described a gal originally from Davenport West who recently won a winter triathlon out in Colorado. Heather Best. She was a multi-sport star who may have been the local Female Athlete of the Year her senior year. She's with the Forestry Service in Alaska now, I think. The triathlon was bike, run, and cross-country ski. 5-7 miles each. In the snow. She completed it in less than two hours.
In another ND baseball story, Jeff Samardzija, the record-setting football receiver who also played baseball, was given a $10 million deal by the Chicago Cubs to play baseball. The deal included a $2.5 million signing bonus, and options on a couple more years that could make it a $16.5 in total. By contrast, my ND graduation deal was, "Welcome to the US Air Force. We pay $750 a month."
I also have to fix my mail box today. Not that I get that much mail. But the door to it now falls off when it is pulled to open the box. I don't think that the mailman sees much humor in it's lack of a funtional hinge mechanism. (A day dreamer might bring up the children's story of, Donald's Magical Mailbox, but that's another story.)
I'm off to clean up the Buick and go get the Taurus so that I have the older car when the snow comes in tomorrow.
Have a great day out there. Everyone be safe in their travels.
Be careful out there.
3 is back in Chicago for the weekend. 4 has a sorority function in Omaha. 2 may be in recovery from some bad shrimp at the office party yesterday afternoon.
I had an interesting visit yesterday from an ND classmate from Ohio who was in town on businesss. I hadn't seen him in 30 years. He played second base on our baseball team and we were pretty good friends the last couple of years of undergrad school. He went into the Marines after graduation and we saw one another in Virginia a few times in the early '70's when I was stationed at Dover. He now has a software company and he was in town selling software to a company who uses my partner for tax services. He saw my name on our letterhead that was with some financial information shown to him by the client and he made the call. It's truly a small world.
An article in the local paper this AM described a gal originally from Davenport West who recently won a winter triathlon out in Colorado. Heather Best. She was a multi-sport star who may have been the local Female Athlete of the Year her senior year. She's with the Forestry Service in Alaska now, I think. The triathlon was bike, run, and cross-country ski. 5-7 miles each. In the snow. She completed it in less than two hours.
In another ND baseball story, Jeff Samardzija, the record-setting football receiver who also played baseball, was given a $10 million deal by the Chicago Cubs to play baseball. The deal included a $2.5 million signing bonus, and options on a couple more years that could make it a $16.5 in total. By contrast, my ND graduation deal was, "Welcome to the US Air Force. We pay $750 a month."
I also have to fix my mail box today. Not that I get that much mail. But the door to it now falls off when it is pulled to open the box. I don't think that the mailman sees much humor in it's lack of a funtional hinge mechanism. (A day dreamer might bring up the children's story of, Donald's Magical Mailbox, but that's another story.)
I'm off to clean up the Buick and go get the Taurus so that I have the older car when the snow comes in tomorrow.
Have a great day out there. Everyone be safe in their travels.
Be careful out there.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Thursday
Aunt Martha says that 1 should check out the newly released movie, Freedom Writers, with Hillary Swank. I guess it's a film about a new, young female teacher in an inner-city school. Didn't Michelle Pfieffer star in one called Dangerous Minds with the same concept?
Senator Grassley must have been reading 4000 Days. A lead story in the DM Register today was about his hearing on the validity of tax deductions for contributions to state university athletic programs.
My Saturday online order of Gap jeans was delivered to my door-step yesterday. I was impressed. Perfect fit. I'm a convert.
This could correlate to my days in C-town at AA & Co where I ordered my dress shoes from the shoe-shine guy who would come to your desk to take care of your shoes. He had catalogs and it was perfect shopping for a man.
I'm targeting Saturday as the start of my Spring Training. I figure I'll do bike training and rowing in my basement gym. My health level has returned to normal and I need to pick up the baton.
For the cycling fans, The Tour Down Under started this week in Australia. Not very many of the big names are there, but several of the big teams have sent some of their second-line guys. And the Australians have their stars all in it. The sport still is on it's ear with drug investigations. I don't know if they can get the testing coordinated enough to drive out the cheaters.
An interesting story in USA Today today or yesterday about how blogs have taken the place of diaries, particularly of teenage girls. I didn't read the entire article, but it is interesting how blogs can today open up some communication lines that in many cases never found their way out of the locked diary book. It is still hard for parents and children to have a full-disclosure relationship, but a blog is a powerful tool to at least get some thoughts out there for each generation to digest.
2 has elevated her game as the museum's sommelier (wine steward) such that they gave her the responsibility to pick the wine for the company Christmas/Holiday party to be held this weekend. Good for her. A hint: stay away from the Boone's Farm.
I had planned to get the Taurus tonight so that I would have it to drive in this lousy weather. But 2 advised me that Thursday night is a big tube night, so the exchange will have to happen this weekend. If it's not Big Monday, Super Tuesday, or ACC Wednesday, what's the deal?
Just kidding.
But with that in mind, I know that for most of you this evening it will just be about moving from the couch to the chair to the kitchen and other such back and forths. But even so...
Be careful out there.
Senator Grassley must have been reading 4000 Days. A lead story in the DM Register today was about his hearing on the validity of tax deductions for contributions to state university athletic programs.
My Saturday online order of Gap jeans was delivered to my door-step yesterday. I was impressed. Perfect fit. I'm a convert.
This could correlate to my days in C-town at AA & Co where I ordered my dress shoes from the shoe-shine guy who would come to your desk to take care of your shoes. He had catalogs and it was perfect shopping for a man.
I'm targeting Saturday as the start of my Spring Training. I figure I'll do bike training and rowing in my basement gym. My health level has returned to normal and I need to pick up the baton.
For the cycling fans, The Tour Down Under started this week in Australia. Not very many of the big names are there, but several of the big teams have sent some of their second-line guys. And the Australians have their stars all in it. The sport still is on it's ear with drug investigations. I don't know if they can get the testing coordinated enough to drive out the cheaters.
An interesting story in USA Today today or yesterday about how blogs have taken the place of diaries, particularly of teenage girls. I didn't read the entire article, but it is interesting how blogs can today open up some communication lines that in many cases never found their way out of the locked diary book. It is still hard for parents and children to have a full-disclosure relationship, but a blog is a powerful tool to at least get some thoughts out there for each generation to digest.
2 has elevated her game as the museum's sommelier (wine steward) such that they gave her the responsibility to pick the wine for the company Christmas/Holiday party to be held this weekend. Good for her. A hint: stay away from the Boone's Farm.
I had planned to get the Taurus tonight so that I would have it to drive in this lousy weather. But 2 advised me that Thursday night is a big tube night, so the exchange will have to happen this weekend. If it's not Big Monday, Super Tuesday, or ACC Wednesday, what's the deal?
Just kidding.
But with that in mind, I know that for most of you this evening it will just be about moving from the couch to the chair to the kitchen and other such back and forths. But even so...
Be careful out there.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Wednesday
Not a lot news at this end. Cool weather. But some sunshine. Hey, it's winter.
Craig Wilson was writing in USA Today today about being at the gym with a "perky" little personal trainer for some post-holiday season work-outs. Kind of funny. It didn't sound like his heart was into the concept.
Is there a worse TV venue than Indiana's b-ball arena? When they say the "nose bleed" sections, I think that Indiana is the prime example.
I heard on C-town sports radio today some commentary on the IU-Iowa game. Basically that Sampson has brought some fight back into the Hoosiers. But also that ESPN/ABC's Erin Andrews has become a rock star among the college male audience. My guess is that she'll up-grade to Tom Brady or Peyton Manning pretty soon.
Big indictments in DM over the CIETC scandal. Once the Register reporters got onto that story, it was only a matter of time. Some very greedy people will pay the piper. As they should. How people working in not-for-profit enterprises delude themselves into thinking that their positions merit huge compensation packages is a mystery to me. And sooner or later, the mudrakers will find out the secrets. Which are supposed to be public records anyway.
Of course, college coaches' deals might be in this same area for analysis.
Nice to see gas back under two bucks. The whole business of supply and demand of oil is another mystery. Long term, the price of a barrel of crude will go over $100. Once China and India develop the appetite for fuel like we have in the States, look out.
The word is that Toyota will be the largest auto producer in the world this year. Can GM and Ford ever return to true profitability? To do so will require them to shed the legacy costs of their retirees. That will be messy and expensive. The question is, do they have the financial ability to get past those issues and then retool their business models to compete with Asia?
Glad to see 4 back online.
ACC Wednesday.
Be careful out there.
Craig Wilson was writing in USA Today today about being at the gym with a "perky" little personal trainer for some post-holiday season work-outs. Kind of funny. It didn't sound like his heart was into the concept.
Is there a worse TV venue than Indiana's b-ball arena? When they say the "nose bleed" sections, I think that Indiana is the prime example.
I heard on C-town sports radio today some commentary on the IU-Iowa game. Basically that Sampson has brought some fight back into the Hoosiers. But also that ESPN/ABC's Erin Andrews has become a rock star among the college male audience. My guess is that she'll up-grade to Tom Brady or Peyton Manning pretty soon.
Big indictments in DM over the CIETC scandal. Once the Register reporters got onto that story, it was only a matter of time. Some very greedy people will pay the piper. As they should. How people working in not-for-profit enterprises delude themselves into thinking that their positions merit huge compensation packages is a mystery to me. And sooner or later, the mudrakers will find out the secrets. Which are supposed to be public records anyway.
Of course, college coaches' deals might be in this same area for analysis.
Nice to see gas back under two bucks. The whole business of supply and demand of oil is another mystery. Long term, the price of a barrel of crude will go over $100. Once China and India develop the appetite for fuel like we have in the States, look out.
The word is that Toyota will be the largest auto producer in the world this year. Can GM and Ford ever return to true profitability? To do so will require them to shed the legacy costs of their retirees. That will be messy and expensive. The question is, do they have the financial ability to get past those issues and then retool their business models to compete with Asia?
Glad to see 4 back online.
ACC Wednesday.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Tuesday
This is a non-blog night. I have a dinner-meeting shortly after 5PM so I'll catch-up here tomorrow.
Enjoyed 4's entry last night. She needs to keep at it.
Hawks play at Indiana tonight. It will likely be a long evening for Iowa.
I have some pics from 4's b-day, Cabo and last weekend that I will try to get on the net tomorrow. It's hard to take a bad picture with my camera.
Thanks for checking in.
Be careful out there.
Enjoyed 4's entry last night. She needs to keep at it.
Hawks play at Indiana tonight. It will likely be a long evening for Iowa.
I have some pics from 4's b-day, Cabo and last weekend that I will try to get on the net tomorrow. It's hard to take a bad picture with my camera.
Thanks for checking in.
Be careful out there.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Monday PM
4 needs to give us something.
I'm off to Big Monday. The second game is a border was with KU and Mizzou.
Have a good evening.
And be extra careful out there in the weather.
I'm off to Big Monday. The second game is a border was with KU and Mizzou.
Have a good evening.
And be extra careful out there in the weather.
MondayAM
Sunday just didn't happen. I was out and about in the AM, but with 3 and 4 headed back to IC, I spent the early afternoon with them, and weather coming in late in the day, I chose to stay on the couch for the evening.
I am finally approaching the high 90%'s, health-wise. It's been a long time.
Looks like we have Winter again. Ice and snow here. Low temps for the rest of the week.
1 says that she is doing a half later this month. With her base, a half is just another long weekend workout. I'm envious.
MLK Day today. The markets are closed as are all Federal offices. 2 says she has the day off at the Figge as well. Accountants have never participated in this holiday. Very poor timing.
Lots of pro football over the weekend. Amazing how many games come down to the kicker. He tends to be one of the least athletic guys on the team, but as the time winds down, he's always in the spotlight. The kid for San Diego (an Iowa grad and a Pro Bowler this year) missed from 54 yards at the end of their game. If good, the kick would have sent the game into OT. He had made 25 straight on his home field this year. Hadn't missed. But it will be this last one that will be remembered. Ouch.
I went online over the weekend to order some jeans. I have always had a problem with off-the-shelf sizing because most stores stock only even sizes beyond waist size 34. I've almost always been a perfect 35. Gap and Old Navy have previously had the odd numbered sizes, but the current inventory at the local Old Navy outlet had nary a 35 on any shelf. Let alone in a style that I might wear. Gap.com had my size and in basic "old man's" styles. So I became a Gap credit card holder and placed the order for a net of just under $40 per pair, including free delivery. What a deal.
Work calls. Havea great day out there.
I'll get another entry posted later today.
Be careful out there.
I am finally approaching the high 90%'s, health-wise. It's been a long time.
Looks like we have Winter again. Ice and snow here. Low temps for the rest of the week.
1 says that she is doing a half later this month. With her base, a half is just another long weekend workout. I'm envious.
MLK Day today. The markets are closed as are all Federal offices. 2 says she has the day off at the Figge as well. Accountants have never participated in this holiday. Very poor timing.
Lots of pro football over the weekend. Amazing how many games come down to the kicker. He tends to be one of the least athletic guys on the team, but as the time winds down, he's always in the spotlight. The kid for San Diego (an Iowa grad and a Pro Bowler this year) missed from 54 yards at the end of their game. If good, the kick would have sent the game into OT. He had made 25 straight on his home field this year. Hadn't missed. But it will be this last one that will be remembered. Ouch.
I went online over the weekend to order some jeans. I have always had a problem with off-the-shelf sizing because most stores stock only even sizes beyond waist size 34. I've almost always been a perfect 35. Gap and Old Navy have previously had the odd numbered sizes, but the current inventory at the local Old Navy outlet had nary a 35 on any shelf. Let alone in a style that I might wear. Gap.com had my size and in basic "old man's" styles. So I became a Gap credit card holder and placed the order for a net of just under $40 per pair, including free delivery. What a deal.
Work calls. Havea great day out there.
I'll get another entry posted later today.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Saturday
I missed doing an entry yesterday as I was out of the office most of the afternoon, and just never got back before meeting friends for Tuscan red. Big crew last night. Unfortunately, my taste buds are still AWOL and wine is one of the least appealing liquids to sample. So I ended up being a pretty early departure from the impromptu party. I'm planning a weekend of couch-time so that I can get closer to 100% of normal, health-wise, for next week.
My pal Pete joined us for a late coffee/breakfast (actually, he had tea) this AM at the IHOP. He had called on the way back from his morning run along the river. His latest gizmo is a GPS unit that is slightly bigger than an Ironman wrist watch. Not only does it give time and distance covered, it can be connected to your home computer and it will print out the route that you actually travelled! We figured that my pal Roy's fiance will be getting him one that will end up working like a prisoner's ankle bracelet. He'll never be below radar. Heck, she may already have a chip in his car somewhere.
My niece in Seattle is pregnant with twins. The closest relatives that I can name with twins are first cousins on my Dad's side of the family. I think that one of Daddy's sisters who lived in Ottumwa had twins who were in Aunt Martha's age range. And I think that maybe a couple of other siblings of the twins (it was a big Catholic family) then had twins in that next generation. The Seattle twins would be another generation down the line. Do genes travel that far, or is it just nature?
I was right on a couple of scores earlier this week. First, the lawsuit against the Vatican was front page news in the local fishwrap. Although they couldn't get the local attorney's to contribute any meaty quotes. And second, Big Monday does start this coming Monday. Followed by Super Tuesday and ACC Wednesday.
ND has hired a new defensive coordinator for next year. Duh! If Charlie gets 10 wins next year, he'll be Coach of the Year.
A post-script on Cabo. There had been two separate charges on my last credit card bill for what were obviously air and hotel accommodations. In the course of various conversations while in Cabo, the guy who had coordinated the trip had commented how the deal was actually pretty reasonable. Those conversations lead me to believe that the golf was included in the hotel bill. And doing the math, if golf was included in the hotel, it was a good deal. Well, as this trip has proven in the past, no such luck. My latest credit card bill came in this week and it had another line-item for the third leg of the tripod, this one for golf, and The Why Pay Less Tour continues to merit it's title.
Winter is in the forecast for the weekend. No complaints from me for mid-January. In another 45 days, it will be close to Spring. Let it snow. Give the ski people a break.
4 is correct. Spell-check on the New Blogger is very handy.
Have a great weekend. Thanks for reading.
Be careful out there.
My pal Pete joined us for a late coffee/breakfast (actually, he had tea) this AM at the IHOP. He had called on the way back from his morning run along the river. His latest gizmo is a GPS unit that is slightly bigger than an Ironman wrist watch. Not only does it give time and distance covered, it can be connected to your home computer and it will print out the route that you actually travelled! We figured that my pal Roy's fiance will be getting him one that will end up working like a prisoner's ankle bracelet. He'll never be below radar. Heck, she may already have a chip in his car somewhere.
My niece in Seattle is pregnant with twins. The closest relatives that I can name with twins are first cousins on my Dad's side of the family. I think that one of Daddy's sisters who lived in Ottumwa had twins who were in Aunt Martha's age range. And I think that maybe a couple of other siblings of the twins (it was a big Catholic family) then had twins in that next generation. The Seattle twins would be another generation down the line. Do genes travel that far, or is it just nature?
I was right on a couple of scores earlier this week. First, the lawsuit against the Vatican was front page news in the local fishwrap. Although they couldn't get the local attorney's to contribute any meaty quotes. And second, Big Monday does start this coming Monday. Followed by Super Tuesday and ACC Wednesday.
ND has hired a new defensive coordinator for next year. Duh! If Charlie gets 10 wins next year, he'll be Coach of the Year.
A post-script on Cabo. There had been two separate charges on my last credit card bill for what were obviously air and hotel accommodations. In the course of various conversations while in Cabo, the guy who had coordinated the trip had commented how the deal was actually pretty reasonable. Those conversations lead me to believe that the golf was included in the hotel bill. And doing the math, if golf was included in the hotel, it was a good deal. Well, as this trip has proven in the past, no such luck. My latest credit card bill came in this week and it had another line-item for the third leg of the tripod, this one for golf, and The Why Pay Less Tour continues to merit it's title.
Winter is in the forecast for the weekend. No complaints from me for mid-January. In another 45 days, it will be close to Spring. Let it snow. Give the ski people a break.
4 is correct. Spell-check on the New Blogger is very handy.
Have a great weekend. Thanks for reading.
Be careful out there.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Thursday
I switched to "New Blogger" today. Hope that I haven't lost the old stuff. I still need to print most of the last half of 2006 for posterity's purposes.
The Hawks lived up to form last night. They have no inside defense. With a little video lesson, the other teams in the Big 10 will make life miserable for Iowa in future games.
One of the by-products of my chest cold has been the loss of taste. While I have had almost no appetite since Christmas, that which I have eaten has gone down with little distinguishing taste. The good news is that 2 is basically healthy, which means my recovery shouldn't be far behind.
FFF at Sports Fans last night was good. A belated birthday party, including gifts. I like the popcorn there. Almost like going to a game.
3 is headed back in to C-town for the Piper Christmas party tomorrow night. She's making that trip a frequently recurring event. Maybe that means that we will see some of her once the job really starts next Summer.
I see where some District judge in the US has agreed that some priest abuse victims in his jurisdiction have standing to sue the Vatican. Will the lawyers lined up against the Diocese of Davenport be far behind? Where does it end?
I'm off to find another night of good sleep to get rid of my disease. Contraband Mexican drugs seem to be working.
Be careful out there.
The Hawks lived up to form last night. They have no inside defense. With a little video lesson, the other teams in the Big 10 will make life miserable for Iowa in future games.
One of the by-products of my chest cold has been the loss of taste. While I have had almost no appetite since Christmas, that which I have eaten has gone down with little distinguishing taste. The good news is that 2 is basically healthy, which means my recovery shouldn't be far behind.
FFF at Sports Fans last night was good. A belated birthday party, including gifts. I like the popcorn there. Almost like going to a game.
3 is headed back in to C-town for the Piper Christmas party tomorrow night. She's making that trip a frequently recurring event. Maybe that means that we will see some of her once the job really starts next Summer.
I see where some District judge in the US has agreed that some priest abuse victims in his jurisdiction have standing to sue the Vatican. Will the lawyers lined up against the Diocese of Davenport be far behind? Where does it end?
I'm off to find another night of good sleep to get rid of my disease. Contraband Mexican drugs seem to be working.
Be careful out there.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Wednesday
Just a few lines today. Still trying to find a groove.
2, 3, 4 and I are doing a little FFF at Sports Fans tonight. The Hawks play at Illinois. Give the points and take the Illini. I think that both teams are so lightly regarded that there may be no live TV for the game.
1 reports that her 9th grade girls b-ball team is now 10-1 for the year and has avenged the lone loss. Way to go Coach!
Mom had somebody come take the Saturn this AM which takes the family count of cars down to seven. One per member, plus Margret. The Taurus is temporarily on loan to 4.
The Consumer Electronics Show is in Vegas this week. The Auto Show is in Detroit. My pal Roy has a fire alarm company and he and his sales manager flew to LV this AM to check out new products that his firm might be able to incorporate in their strategic plan. It seems strange to speak of Roy and strategic plan in the same sentence.
Thanks for reading.
Be careful out there.
2, 3, 4 and I are doing a little FFF at Sports Fans tonight. The Hawks play at Illinois. Give the points and take the Illini. I think that both teams are so lightly regarded that there may be no live TV for the game.
1 reports that her 9th grade girls b-ball team is now 10-1 for the year and has avenged the lone loss. Way to go Coach!
Mom had somebody come take the Saturn this AM which takes the family count of cars down to seven. One per member, plus Margret. The Taurus is temporarily on loan to 4.
The Consumer Electronics Show is in Vegas this week. The Auto Show is in Detroit. My pal Roy has a fire alarm company and he and his sales manager flew to LV this AM to check out new products that his firm might be able to incorporate in their strategic plan. It seems strange to speak of Roy and strategic plan in the same sentence.
Thanks for reading.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Tuesday
Back in the USA. And glad to be here.
The travel day was long, but could have been worse if not for my pal Roy. Our flight out of Cabo was delayed an hour and a half to change a tire on the landing gear. The ground crew would never make it in NASCAR. Then when we got to Chicago, our group was missing about four bags. Forty minutes later, they found the lost baggage trailer. Knowing that we had the delay in Cabo, and anticipating a delay in Customs in Chicago, Roy had called in his plane to meet us in Chicago, which worked out just fine. Our arrival in the Quad Cities was almost on schedule. As I have always said, it's nice to have friends with planes, boats and horses.
Cabo is a wonderful place to visit for golf and relaxation, but I wouldn't want to live there. It's expensive, and, off the beaten track, primitive. I like fish, but not tacos.
I wore 3's Christmas present to me on one day. 1's gift is always with me.
Sounds like 3 had a good time at Tahoe. She'll need to give us details.
Aunt Martha's puzzles came in handy too.
Ohio State showed up last night and played like ND.
I missed the newspapers down in Cabo. We had limited access to the internet, but I still like reading the papers over coffee in the AM. They print a small English tabloid each day for the Gringos, but it's not the same as getting through USA Today, The Des Moines Register, The WSJ, and our local rag. And while our set-up was very luxurious, we did our own Continental breakfast each day which was something less than my preference for a fruit buffet with muffins and other baked goods. But that buffet ran around $25 per person last year so less is more, eh?
Big Monday should be starting next week on ESPN. College b-ball really heats up after the bowl games. It seems like every night has a big game. Life is good. The Oracle lives.
Thanks for reading. Glad to be back on-line.
Be careful out there.
The travel day was long, but could have been worse if not for my pal Roy. Our flight out of Cabo was delayed an hour and a half to change a tire on the landing gear. The ground crew would never make it in NASCAR. Then when we got to Chicago, our group was missing about four bags. Forty minutes later, they found the lost baggage trailer. Knowing that we had the delay in Cabo, and anticipating a delay in Customs in Chicago, Roy had called in his plane to meet us in Chicago, which worked out just fine. Our arrival in the Quad Cities was almost on schedule. As I have always said, it's nice to have friends with planes, boats and horses.
Cabo is a wonderful place to visit for golf and relaxation, but I wouldn't want to live there. It's expensive, and, off the beaten track, primitive. I like fish, but not tacos.
I wore 3's Christmas present to me on one day. 1's gift is always with me.
Sounds like 3 had a good time at Tahoe. She'll need to give us details.
Aunt Martha's puzzles came in handy too.
Ohio State showed up last night and played like ND.
I missed the newspapers down in Cabo. We had limited access to the internet, but I still like reading the papers over coffee in the AM. They print a small English tabloid each day for the Gringos, but it's not the same as getting through USA Today, The Des Moines Register, The WSJ, and our local rag. And while our set-up was very luxurious, we did our own Continental breakfast each day which was something less than my preference for a fruit buffet with muffins and other baked goods. But that buffet ran around $25 per person last year so less is more, eh?
Big Monday should be starting next week on ESPN. College b-ball really heats up after the bowl games. It seems like every night has a big game. Life is good. The Oracle lives.
Thanks for reading. Glad to be back on-line.
Be careful out there.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Sunday 1/7/07
I live!
It's been ok here in Cabo, but I have yet to feel good enough to go out at night with the boys. Perfect weather. Wonderful golf courses. Good friends.
One more day in Paradise. Return on my birthday. I assume I have Happy Tax Birthday wishes from the fam.
Hope 3 is having fun in Tahoe.
Thanks for thinking of me.
Be careful out there.
It's been ok here in Cabo, but I have yet to feel good enough to go out at night with the boys. Perfect weather. Wonderful golf courses. Good friends.
One more day in Paradise. Return on my birthday. I assume I have Happy Tax Birthday wishes from the fam.
Hope 3 is having fun in Tahoe.
Thanks for thinking of me.
Be careful out there.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Tuesday AM
Happy New Year to all.
I have spent most of the last three days on the couch battling a cold. Really miserable. I was unable to partake in any New Years' revelry, and I continue to hack away. The Why Pay Less Tour starts Thursday AM so I sure hope that there is progress before then.
I may not be adding much to the blog this week.
Be careful out there.
I have spent most of the last three days on the couch battling a cold. Really miserable. I was unable to partake in any New Years' revelry, and I continue to hack away. The Why Pay Less Tour starts Thursday AM so I sure hope that there is progress before then.
I may not be adding much to the blog this week.
Be careful out there.
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