Tales from the Lost Coast

Dive Log 1: Part 1

2012-02-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

As of late, I have gotten the SCUBA bug. I've had this bug before, but this is a little different. First, I lack a regular dive buddy. Iver is my best bet, but his life doesn't allow for a lot of diving all together. Second, I still lack some of the regular equipment most divers have. For example, I've been renting a wetsuit for the last five years (it really is time for that wetsuit I've

Its the Title Fight, and in this Corner....

2011-09-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

Today is September 25th. And what, pray tell, does that have to do with anything? Well, as it turns out, today marks the exact 20 week mark until the Trinidad to Clam Beach Run, of course! Having said that, its time to keep score for the main event. Its motivation -vs- Laziness. That's right, Laziness has a proper name, and he is my nemesis. Starting score: Motivation = 0, Laziness =

The Rhythm of My Life

2011-09-19T02:33:00.000-07:00

Lets talk about Rhythm. A movement or procedure with uniform of patterned recurrence of a beat, accent, or the like. What's my Rhythm? Some people would argue its a slow and steady Rhythm. I think I might tend to agree with that. Generally speaking, I am not in the biggest hurry to get anywhere. I have even been told once or twice that I am one of the slowest people around. And while

Running, and running, and running.....

2011-09-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

Its Thursday. Thursday morning, to be specific. And what does that have to do with anything? Its simply one day closer to running 5.75 miles down a combination of Scenic Drive and Clam Beach. Yes ladies and gentlemen, its time to start thinking about the Trinidad to Clam Beach Run. I don't know exactly what motivated me to do this last year, I guess I was just trying to find something new

A time to remember, reflect, and respect.

2011-09-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

Its 9/11. I had originally thought to sit down this morning and talk about how I am working to motivate myself in numerous ways and means. In stead it seems more appropriate to spend a little time remembering. On 09/11/2001 I was camping at a campground near Pincecrest Lake, CA. It was early morning still, and there was a large group of us in various stages of our own early morning

Motivation finds a new name, in the form of an American classic.

2011-05-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

What happened? It was going so smoothly. It was going so swimmingly? I suppose it should suffice to say it was going good. I was a blog posting fool And then it all fell apart. I pretty much gave up. As an example of how bad things have gotten, as I am writing this I haven’t even bookmarked my blog on my new netbook I got last Christmas. I started blogging in 2007. In 2007, I posted a total of

Its beginning to SOUND a lot like Christmas.

2010-11-25T07:30:00.000-08:00

Its Thanksgiving. I was toying around with the notion of writing the traditional "I'm thankful for..." post, however I have decided to forgo this option. Don't get me wrong, there are things I am extremely grateful for. And I could actually make a list that is quite extensive. But for right now, I'm thinking about something else entirely. It's almost Christmas!! I have to admit, I get

Running My Arse Off.

2010-11-22T03:58:00.000-08:00

It’s a little over half way through the original training schedule of 9 weeks to run a 5K (remember folks, a 5k is 3.1 miles). Of course, I have lengthened that schedule out to a total of 15 weeks in order to accommodate my desire to hit 5.75 miles. Don’t ask me how many K’s that is, its more math than I really want to attempt right now. Ok, before I could continue, I had to figure the K’s

We get coins, we get shirts, we walk a lot of places, get dissapointed with the cab service, and in the end, we complete our quest.

2010-11-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

Its over. Our quest has ended. We are victorious. We saw Brandi, and it was good. But before I delve into a review of the event, I'll do a quick sum-up of the weekend leading up to the concert. Denver itself is actually a pretty nice city. And the Lower Downtown (commonly referred to as LoDo, which sounds kinda dumb to me; that would be like calling Old Town Eureka "OlToe", that sounds about

Vegas lights, Sheryl quits, and we get Ugly.

2010-11-09T22:45:00.000-08:00

When we last checked in with our intrepid concert goers, they found themselves in Petaluma, CA; smack dab in the middle of California’s wine country…. For anyone unfamiliar with Petaluma, it’s really a nice little city. It’s a little too big to call a town, but it’s still a little small to call a metropolitan area. With a beautiful downtown area, a marina on the Petaluma River (a tidal estuary

A concert canceled leaves us wanting more...

2010-11-08T00:34:00.000-08:00

Determination comes in many forms. For example, it comes in the form of the determination to run a race in Trinidad. For another example, it comes in the form of working ones arse off over the course of a weekend, and getting only about 2 hours of sleep before starting the weeks worth of night shifts, in order to finish the patio. But I have gone on way too much about these two topics as of

Motivation stays strong in some areas....

2010-11-05T00:48:00.000-07:00

Lets face it: When a guy has a few goals, some hit the mark and others seem to fall by the wayside. And so it is with this guy. Goal number 1: Running the Clam Beach Run. I been maintaining a regular gym attendance. About 5 days out of the 7 day week. Pretty darn good. I have lost 6 pounds (I'm sure I could lose a little more were I to really alter my diet, but I end up so hungry after

Weekend Update

2010-10-28T16:58:00.000-07:00

Well, as is usually the case when a person goes a week and a half between posts, there is a certain amount of catching up to do. And so it is, with a whole lot of pomp and circumstance, I will jump right into the meat of two different subjects. Update Numero Uno: About two or so years ago, I came to the conclusion it would be necessary to remove the deck from the back yard. There was actually a

Ankle pain, I scoff at thee; or, How I got motivated to actually run a race.

2010-10-21T02:47:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning to feel a bit like a broken record. "I want to blog." "I want to revitalize my blogging." "I wan to do this... I want to do that...." The worst part about this habitual complaining, which is promptly followed by absolutely zero followthrough, is it has slowly affected other portions of my life as well. My prime example, and general focus of my posting here, is my gym membership.

I procrastinate the heck out of everything.

2010-08-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

Three things: One, I love camping. Two, I actually enjoy the chore of preparing for a camping trip. And three, I am a horrible procrastinator. Lets break things down, one by one, shall we? 1. I love camping: Ever since I was a little child, even as far back as I can remember, we have been a camping family. As a child I have fond memories of racing our bikes around the loop at Fallen Leaf Lake,

My chicken was curried.

2010-08-11T22:41:00.001-07:00

When I was a wee lad I had to make my own lunches for school. At a quick glance, one might think my mother was either uninvolved or simply uncaring, but nothing could really be farther from the truth. In fact, my mother was quite involved and caring, and made my lunch for me every single day, up until the day when I

Money Matters

2010-07-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

Lets face facts here, I am not a financially responsible person. In fact, I am diametrically opposed to such a title. If there were a title for a guy like me, it would be really long and take up too much space, include a few swear words, and in general could be summed up with something simple like this: I am completely incompetent when it comes to matters of money. D, on the flip side, is

The Great Two Wheeled Dilema

2010-07-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

I have been wrestling with this post for a few days, and in the interim, I simply posted some fluff regarding stupid commercials. Now, however, its time to actually say my peace about a particular subject. About, oh, 12 years ago I purchased a motorcycle, a 1994 Honda Shadow VT600CD. A simple and fairly entry level bike with an engine size of 583 cubic centimeters. In the world of motorcycles

The network is pandering crap to my kid.

2010-07-16T06:49:00.000-07:00

Anyone with a child will know exactly what I am about to complain about. I'm talking about all these stupid products sold on television stations like Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network. For example, I just watched a commercial for what is called a Fushigi Gravity Ball. This is used for the "sport" of contact juggling. What, pray tell, is contact juggling? Well, lets refer to you tube. The

Revitalization and the Social Network.

2010-07-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of months, I have come to a realization: Facebook has been completely detrimental to my blogging. Over the course of about two years, I was a routine blogger. I had not a care in the world about posting; indeed, I would type out a post like a musician plays the piano. Imagining the letter keys to be the ebony and ivory of a keyboard, posts on various and sometimes

An Update on Creative Writing

2010-02-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

Well, its been a long haul getting this week's piece together. The main bulk is written and I am looking to make some editorial changes this evening and post it up. Stay tuned.

My deadline wasn't met. I'll be on track this week.

2010-02-06T23:47:00.000-08:00

Deadlines. Holy crap, deadlines. I have been working, a little on my newest piece, but I have also spent my entire weekend with my son (which takes precedence, I'm sure you people understand). So, I am taking the liberty of postponing my posting of my first SCUBA experience for a few days. I'll be back in touch soon.

A Critique of Myself.

2010-02-02T18:42:00.000-08:00

And now, my own review of my own writing, after all, I will be my own worst critic. Critique numero uno: I am not a man of paptience, and I fear this may hinder my goal of publication within the year. Over the course of last week I a made an effort to work on my little piece at least once a day. I really put some effort into the whole idea of putting some effort into this project. As the week

Creative Writing: Flat On My Back

2010-01-29T21:28:00.000-08:00

In keeping with my goal of publication within the next year, I will be posting something (or really anything) in an attempt to work on my written proficiency, but to garner a little creative criticism from friends and family. So, feel free to dissect and put some criticism out there. I welcome it. I may not like it, but lets have it anyway. One thing of note: this is completely unedited. I

Creative Writing

2010-01-26T09:36:00.000-08:00

With my recent goal of actually writing something worth publication, I started doing some simple creative writing projects. Well, actually, just one project for right now. My first goal is to simply start writing things. So I am taking simple, everyday events (or some that are unique) and putting them to written word. At first I thought this would be an easy task. After all, I am one of the

Grand Design and Goal

2010-01-24T14:05:00.000-08:00

So, lately I have had a complete inability to actually put any sort of thoughts to written words. For example, my draft folder is, as of this moment, full of half written and completely abandoned attempts to actually update my forsaken blog. Why, then, the sudden urge to post something? I have set myself a few goals. Actually, I have set one goal (because I have found in the recent past I am

Here's Wool in your Arse!

2010-01-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

Once again I have found myself starting eleventy-billion posts and finishing none of them. I have come to a certain realization about my particular blogging: I am completely directionless. I have no focus. and it bothers me. I can't really say why, over all. But in the end, it still bothers me. But oh well. What are is a guy to do? I could continue to fight it, and remain stagnant. Or,

Gap-toothed Me Goes to the Dentist.

2009-11-19T11:38:00.000-08:00

I don't remember the last time I went to see a dentist. Wait, let me rephrase that, I remember the last time I saw dentist; however I don't specifically remember how long ago that was. I do remember the incident, in which during a game of what should have been "touch" football, I was involved in a sort of dog-pile, and my bridge was knocked out. Now that may seem like quite the serious

House Arrest and Vivid Dreams.

2009-11-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

Its been about a week now that I have been sick. So here is a rundown of me and my activities. First, I don't go anywhere. I'm pretty much on house arrest. Wife would kill me if she know I was out among the populace spreading my germs to the unsuspecting masses. Normally, I don't mind being home and not going anywhere. But, there has been one problem in all of this. Anyone who has been to

My arm gets a new pulse.

2009-11-10T19:58:00.000-08:00

To begin this post, I want to refer to one of my favorite online references, Dictionary.com. The word TRUST is defined there as: Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence. So, who earns trust? Well, Wife for one. She has my complete and total trust. That’s not something a person simply gives out freely or on a whim. Family has my trust. Certain

Blogging Old School. Yeah, pen and ink.

2009-11-09T07:14:00.000-08:00

***If you have trouble reading this as it is, simply click on the picture, and open it up as a much larger and easier to read picture*** ***PS - This post turned out to look exactly as I wanted it to. I'm so proud of myself***

A little photo documentation.

2009-11-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

OK, so I had planned to do this the other day, but in the end, my own laziness got the better of me and I failed miserably to follow through. So now, when I should be sleeping, I am wide awake and fighting a budding head cold which is making me miserable. But enough with the unpleasantries, on with the show. On Tuesday I was awake and it was indeed beautiful out, so I actually did grab my

Awake and ready to go, apparently.

2009-11-03T09:05:00.000-08:00

Its currently 9:01 in the AM. I am awake, a rather large accomplishment considering I work night shift, and its absolutely gorgeous outside. This was the sunrise over my backyard this morning. So now I am left with the quandry: What shall I do today? I have the urge to get the camera and just drive around for a while and provide some photo documentation of my area and the goings on here,

The secret is out, I make a pretty good chili!!

2009-10-31T07:22:00.000-07:00

OK, at the request of my adoring fans, I am posting the recipe to one of my favorite dishes: My Super Secret Chili. Some of you may be thinking, "Well, if he posts it, will it not be public? Hence, no longer super secret?" To answer this question, I refer you to one of the more simple words in the English language: Yes. And now, presenting my Super Secret Chili Recipe!! First, the

Medical Issues -vs- My Notebook.

2009-10-29T01:51:00.000-07:00

I recently attended a mandatory training class on Medical Issues in Jail. I am slightly ashamed to admit this, but after sitting there for about three and a half hours I really don’t remember what was said, except for a few snippets (one of which will be featured a few paragraphs down). I actually planned to pay attention, but the first speaker ruined this idea, and my notebook soon became a list

Attempted Transition and Reconciliation.

2009-10-22T01:30:00.000-07:00

I’m a little disappointed in myself. Why you may ask? What has happened to cause such a drastic feeling? I attempted to move my Blog to Wordpress and in the end was disappointed with the product and have returned to my beloved blogger. Here is what happened: I was sitting in front of the computer the other day and messing around with my blog. All at once, and with not sort of warning what so

A quest for a broader range of readership.

2009-10-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

For a while now I have had a growing desire to somehow increase my following. As I have said before, I started this whole blogging ordeal in order to keep up with family. Over time, though, it’s slowly evolved into a whole different animal of its own. My following, such as it is, is fairly limited; some family, some friends, and a few people who I have actually come into contact through other

The 10 Truisms of Adam (Not the Only 10, But a Good Start)

2009-10-15T03:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the challenge of being true, not only to myself, but to my readers at large, has arisen. The truth to be told, you ask? Ten; count them t-e-n (oops, I spelled that). I don’t know how many people here have ever attempted something as bold as this, but it’s actually quite difficult. How honest should I be here? Where do I draw the line between simple honesty and a complete and total

Over indulgence without the guilt.

2009-10-14T04:05:00.000-07:00

Over-indulgence. We have all been there. Perhaps your favorite, decadent food. Maybe a certain sweet. Or perhaps a favorite drink. At any rate, you choose your poison, indulge, and spend the next few days wondering what you have done and if your palate will ever recover in order to enjoy your favorite whatever. My over-indulgence? Blogging. Crazy, huh? But its true. I went for a

NaBlo what??

2009-10-04T13:39:00.000-07:00

Holy crap. My goal of posting something every day for a month fell flat on it's face. Here is the rundown. For nearly 22 days I managed to post something. And surprisingly, a lot of these posts were more than just a simple "I have to post something so I am posting this pathetic one sentence post in order to meet my requirements" post. So what happened? I stayed awake for nearly 27 hours. On

What? Oh, this is really nothing.

2009-09-28T05:42:00.001-07:00

Ok, seriously, I am cramming this one in at the last second. I'm to see the boy this weekend, which means very little sleep today. I'm going to be a disaster. More later.

Grace Cathedral, the Labyrinth, and an Overly Closed Mind Opened a Little

2009-09-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

(This post was inspired by a friends Facebook status. Thanks M) When I was just out of High School, I dated a girl named Jennifer. I'm pretty sure my mother never really liked her, but dad thought she was alright. For those of you who don't know, I was raised in an LDS household, something which still holds a place in my soul for making me who I am (however, this is not a piece on religion,

A little recognition and the Great Dish Disaster of 2009

2009-09-25T06:47:00.000-07:00

First, apparently all a guy has to do to get a little feedback is simply complain that he is getting no feedback. Perhaps, in the quest for my completion of NaBloPoMo, I forgot the effort it actually takes to sit down, to not only post but, to comment as well. I am relieved to see my audience is still around. Second, the great Dish Network Disaster of 2009. This is a little more of a meaty

A little note wich is big on complaining.

2009-09-24T03:15:00.001-07:00

Two items of note: Had the dish people come over and install the satalite. Did it work like they said? Nope. Did I try all afternoon to get it to work before I called and they told me it wouldn't work? Yep. Was I a frustrated person? You bet. On another note, I think I might be the onl y person who is actually spending any time here. Bummer. I seem to have lost my audience. And now,

A small reprieve and a bit of thanks.

2009-09-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

Its been a long week. I am now faced with two whole days off. The only saving grace to this torturous week is spending the next two nights with Wife, and knowing Oktoberfest is around the corner. Now, on to something a little more meaty. One of the hard parts about my profession is knowing that even though you don't always get along with others you work with, you still have to be there to

Glorious Meat and a complete and utter failure.

2009-09-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I had one day off. Saturday. In one sense, it was a pretty good day. In another sense, it was a day of complete and utter failure. So, on with the good and the bad. The good: Wife and I seem to rarely get a day off together. This is for various reasons. The fact that I work graveyards has a lot to do with it. For what usually amounts to more than half the week, our

Talk like a pirate you scurvy dog! Arr!!

2009-09-19T00:50:00.000-07:00

It is September 19th, 2009. And for those of you that don't know, it is: International Talk Like a Pirate Day. And hence, you land lubbers, I be talkin' like a Pirate, arrr! I actually attempted to type a little, as though I were talking like a pirate, but that proved to be a little tougher than I thought. It also looked as though I am completely uneducated. Which is something I can't live

A Paltry Post to simply post something.

2009-09-18T06:52:00.001-07:00

In the spirit of NaBloPoMo I am posting something. I am tired. I am going to bed. I have nothing more to say. Adam, out.

Norm, a complete stranger, comments on my horrendous spelling skills; And I thank him?

2009-09-17T00:51:00.001-07:00

I did something tonight I have tried very hard not to do since I started this blogging endeavor: I wrote a small piece, posted it, and have now deleted it. Here’s the deal: A rather lengthy conversation led to some thinking, and even a little introspection and self-evaluation. This led to some goals I set for myself, which I realized not too long afterward were way out of my league. So, I

Posting to simply post.

2009-09-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

OK, so technically its still yesterday for me. Right now I am simply posting something, anything, to make my quota for the month long ordeal I have signed up for. Having said that, I'm home from the gym, I'm tired and I stink. Time for a shower, and then bed. I'll make an effort at being more prolific tonight. Adam... Out.

An admission of an addiction

2009-09-15T00:33:00.001-07:00

I'm not entirely sure where the addiction began. Its all kind of fuzzy, really. Its just seems like yesterday I was not so hooked, and now I can't go a full day without a fix. Its hard to admit really. Of course, there is the old addage (a little more on this word later), "Admitting you have a problem is the fist step to recovery." But do I really want to recover? Do I really have a

A personal letter

2009-09-13T22:59:00.000-07:00

Dean Elliptical Glider, We have been together for a full week now. I remember, like it was yesterday, our first encounter. You looked so innocent, and yet somehow kind of easy. With your oversized foot platforms and easy to grip handles, I figured I was wasting my time getting to know you. In fact, I even felt foolish, to a degree. Almost even embarrassed. Was I settling for less with the

Procrastination and Rationalization.

2009-09-13T04:07:00.000-07:00

Procrastination, and Rationalization. To skills I have honed to perfection. Anyone who is paying attention to the dates attached to my posts will clearly see there is a date missing. September, 12. However, I do not believe this counts as a failure on my part to post at least once a day. Hear me out (or rather, read a little farther). Most people define their days by their waking hours.

Remembrance and Appreciation

2009-09-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

I hadn't planned on posting something else today, however, that plan has changed. And so begins a little focus. This morning, while at the gym, the two TVs on the wall, which are always on the news in the morning, were tuned to CNN and Fox News. These two television news stations could not be any more diametrically opposed to one another. Fox News is ridiculously conservative, and

The need to focus is sudenly becoming clear.

2009-09-11T03:52:00.000-07:00

Is it cheating if start my post before midnight? I don't really think so , since I work all night. And as I have often said in the past, I seem to always be way more inspired to write something when I am working. I'm sure this has more to do with me not wanting to work over any sort of late-night inspiration. But in the end, it is what is it. You know? So, I am on day 6 of my goal to

I dig in... to the cat boxes.

2009-09-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing that comes along with pet ownership, its cleaning up after said pets.Lets take a look at our household, for example.There is Bear (the dumb-as-a-rock dog), Ubu (the I'm-and-cranky-but-you-better-love-me cat), Tia (the I-got-teeth-fixed-and-now-I-can't-stop-eating-so-I-weigh-ton cat) and Chimo (the

A minor set back, and renewed determination.

2009-09-09T23:01:00.000-07:00

It’s currently 10:15 pm. I was afraid I wouldn’t make my quota.I got home this morning after spending the better portion of my night hacking, coughing and sweating. I got home, thinking I would make myself hot cup of tea and get all hopped up on cold medication. However, that didn’t pan out for me. I laid down on the bed and promptly fell asleep a few minutes later. I woke up a short time

Day 3 - Maybe I am getting old, so I tackled my inhibition and hit the elliptical trainer.

2009-09-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

OK, so I'm only 33. Not that old. But there are parts of me that are aged beyond what they should be. Two parts specifically, my left and right ankles. Anyone who has followed my blog knows I have ankle issues. Long story short: Where I should have ball and socket joints in my ankles I have two flat ends with little to no cartilage. Numerous ankle surgeries later and they are functional,

Day 2 - The Great B-Movie Disappointment

2009-09-07T09:18:00.001-07:00

There was a time when I would get together with my friends and watch B-Movies. You all know the kind I'm talking about. They are typically touted as Sci-Fi originals or "The scariest movie ever made." As a standard practice, they feature "stars" with unknown names and questionable talent. Every now and then you find a movie with a name you recognize, but know the actor in question hasn't made a

Day 1 - A little torture on the treadmill and a huge disclaimer.

2009-09-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

And so it begins. I woke up at 1300 hrs today and headed down to the gym. One of the hardest things about going back to the gym is realizing you aren't in the shape you might have once been when you lasted made use of a rather costly, monthly membership. Before Wife and I got married I was attending regularly, and was probably in the best shape of my life. I was running for 30 minutes solid and

A commitment to self motivation, realization, and the eradication of procrastination.

2009-09-05T17:17:00.000-07:00

We shall begin with a little introduction from the English Dictionary: To Stagnate: to cease to run or flow; as water, air, etc. to become stale or foul from standing, such as a pool of water. to stop developing, growing, progressing, or advancing. to become sluggish and dull. First off, I do not believe number one applies to me. Why, you may ask? Well, I am neither water nor air. Nor do I

A paltry update on nothing at all.

2009-08-27T00:43:00.000-07:00

What has happened to me? I used to consider myself to be somewhat prolific. I used to think I had a voice, and while it didn't always say something meaningful or useful, it usually said something. So why have I completely faltered? Falter? No, that's not the right word. To falter would imply I have made a mistake and recognize a clear path back to where I was. That is certainly not me in this

Any port will do, but I would much rather have a Marina.

2009-08-09T23:27:00.001-07:00

Inspiration comes at the weirdest times and strangest places. For example, here I sit at work, of all places, and suddenly feel like I need to post something. How weird and out of place is this sudden desire? Lets look at in laymen’s terms: I am at work, I am wearing a shirt that has always been on the side of being-too-small-to-really-be-comfortable-yet-not-to-small-to-justify-buying-another-$60

And I quote, "It's no big deal." Yeah right, Bill. Yeah, right.

2009-07-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

It’s been about 10 years since I have been to Arizona. It seems like many things have changed. There are a lot more people, there are a lot more homes, and there are a lot more shopping centers. If there is one thing that hasn’t changed, it’s the heat. Its hot there. Dang hot. It’s so hot in fact, that the local news stations only label it “HOT” when the temperatures reach 110 degrees or more.

He really stepped in a hornet's nest this time.

2009-07-15T01:56:00.000-07:00

According to Wikipedia, the German Yellow Jacket is the most common species of wasp in the United States. First appearing in Ohio (so I'm not entirely sure why they are called "German Yellow Jackets") they have spread across the continent and are the dominant species of wasp in the U.S. They are aggressive, have a lance-like stinger with small barbs and can sting repeatedly unless the stinger is

A little car washing leads to some simple insights into my own life.

2009-07-13T02:05:00.000-07:00

Vehicle maintenance has never been one of my strong suits. I know how to put gas in my rig (now don’t laugh, there are some out there who have no idea how to do even this simple task). I know how to change the oil. However, this is a larger task, and the work involved is far outweighed by the simple act of paying someone to do it for me. I know how to change a tire. And in the event of a flat, I

A rough week, indeed.

2009-07-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

Its been a rough week for us here on the Lost Coast. I have been working on a draft-type post over the last few days to try and put my thoughts to words, but its been slow going and in the end I simply stalled out. Partly from sheer exhaustion, partly from emotional exhaustion, and partly because after everything that has happened I simply found myself speechless. Last week one of our own was

A posting from Ben

2009-06-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

Hi this is ben i'm really boredand my dad was writing so I decide to. I've never done this before but I'm just going to write down whats going on.todays my dads birthday so we're going to The Ritz! They cook the food at the table! I've been there before and its awsome!Oh,this really is me typeing not my dad typeing what I say.We went camping last weekend.they had an arcade. And a store and the

Its Been a Long Time. But I went to the DMV!

2009-06-30T16:15:00.000-07:00

Wow. I can't believe I haven't posted anything in a a full month. I feel like such a failure. I know I have visited this subject before, but its still the same. I feel obligated to post something but I haven't had the heart to do it, and in the end I simply sit in front of an empty blog post left with frustration. Ugh. But here I am, with a sense of renewed vigor. My most recent foray into the

Weekend update.

2009-05-30T02:41:00.000-07:00

Where the heck have I been? Its been a while since I have sat down and put anything meaningful here, and I'm pretty sure I won't be putting much now either.I wish I could sit here and tell grand tales of adventure or put to words deep and ponderous thoughts full of moral lessons learned. Sadly, this is not to be. I will however do a little bit of catching up.Working night shift has put a serious

Separation Anxiety

2009-05-15T03:29:00.000-07:00

For the past few months I have been seeing a councilor. This shouldn't come as any kind of surprise to anyone who regularly follows these posts, so I won't go into the details of it all again.My Dr, Chuck I will call him (well, I should call him that, that's his name), is a quirky fellow. While I can't think of any immediate examples, he seems like a stereotypical councilor. He always wears a

Night Shift Humor Abounds

2009-05-06T02:38:00.000-07:00

You know you’re in trouble at work when your co-workers don’t talk to you. On the flip side, you know you’re part of the group when they get you in on their jokes, or when you sometimes become the brunt of them. Perhaps these two statements seem a little on the contradictory side. And in reality, they are, unless you work where I do. The people I work with I spend a lot of time with each other,

Supervisory Duty Strikes Again

2009-05-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows where I work should know I have my hands full as a supervisor. At any given time I am supervising anywhere from two to eight employees, or possibly up to 16 and a multi-million dollar facility. Add to that a population of 350-400 plus supervising my employees and it gets a little crazy at times. Now, working where I do, everything thing we do is policy driven. Seriously, I mean

Two days worth of the Lost Coast and a slew of photo-documentation.

2009-04-21T17:28:00.000-07:00

Its a strange thing, really, how we have so many things to do and see here on the North Coast, and we hardly ever do them. My folks are in town for the week, and we have made a point of getting out of the house and seeing some of the local sights. Here is a little taste of the things we have done over the last two days. On Monday we took a walk to the North Jetty. Eureka, at one time (I think),

I have violated my own personal policy (and I feel so dirty, so ashamed).

2009-04-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

Personal Policy #1: Do not talk politics at work. There are a number of reasons for this rule being in effect. Workplace laws make many subjects “taboo.” Can we talk about sexual preference in the workplace? Can we talk about religion? The mere mention of these subjects can slap a person in the face with Hostile Work Environment issue. And, according to law, if an employee makes a claim of a

Let the games begin (and please let me win)!!

2009-04-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

Hope? Anticipation? Apprehension? Jitters? Nerves? I don’t know if matters what you call it. The fact is, when you are applying for a new position, all of these feelings come into play. Here is how the process goes: Usually a few weeks before any official announcement begins the rumor mill. This, in and of itself, is an intricate process that goes on in such detail and tenacity it could have

Brain Dead

2009-04-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

The last few days I have spent working on this memo and essay project. Right now, the memo is complete. The essay is nearly finished. And I am feeling rather brain dead. I think its time to step away from the computer and take a break. Perhaps a refreshed look at it later will leave me a more open view to revision.

A little "friendly" competition.

2009-03-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

In my position at work, there is relatively little room for alternate assignments. It’s not such a bad thing. However, when a specialty position opens up, it is up fro grabs. And even the best of friends can get a little sour over the process of assignment, and the disappointment of not being chosen. I started my current employment nearly seven years ago. I moved from Vacaville, and I was

Date day gone a little wrong, Part 2

2009-03-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Ok, back to date day gone a little wrong. I guess I should first say hat the spent with Wife was just fine. I'm fortunate in the fact that we actually enjoy each others company, so a day spent together is generally pretty good. Now, onto the second comment: The movie Watchmen. I am a huge an of comic book movies. And as computer generated graphics have improved over the years, more and more

Date day gone a little wrong.

2009-03-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

The other day, D and I decided to have us a date day. Date Day consisted of the following activities: 1. Lunch at the AA Bar and Grill 2. Seeing the movie “Watchmen” 3. Going to the casino for $2 Blackjack The casino doesn’t really need a comment, as nothing spectacular happened. I showed up, I donated some money, and I left. First Comment: The AA Bar and Grill Located in downtown Eureka,

A little Karma comes my way, I follow up with a way overdue yard project, and my truck almost kills me.

2009-03-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

What seems like a long time ago I had made the decision to rip my deck apart and get rid of it. It was somewhere in the area of 15 years old, and rotting. There were spots on it when you walked that would bend and sink, and the final straw was when a friend walked on it and it broke. Here is a reminder of what that project looked like when finished.That mess has been sitting on my side yard for

Getting paid to educate myself (and anyone else who will listen to my vast amounts of knowledge)

2009-03-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

There are days when I get home from work, and I can’t wait to get my boots off because me feet hurt so badly. My clothes stink because I spent my running from one task to another, from one emergency to another. And all I can say is, “They don’t pay me enough.” Then there are days that I can’t believe I make the money I do, doing what I do. This Sunday morning is one of those days. I awoke at

A small rant and then I'm finished.

2009-03-06T12:40:00.000-08:00

It’s scary, when a normal and easy going fellow can become an unbelievable bastard just by waking up in the morning. Let me explain. I woke up this morning, like any other morning, and got ready for work. Wife was already up, but was far enough along in her preparations for the day that the shower was clear and open. I figured this was a good start (since we sometimes tend to run into each

A quick retort left me looking a little silly.

2009-03-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

I am not required to like everyone I work with. Believe me, I have looked. Its no where in my job description. Its not in our contract. There is nothing that even remotely makes the implication.On the flip side, though, I am required to work with people I do not like. This is implied in almost every part of my job description. Its a fact of life.Here is an exchange between me and a peer that

A young boy is becoming a Man, right in front of my eyes.

2009-02-25T16:13:00.000-08:00

I have to say, I'm pretty proud of my son. For a number of reasons. Lets start with the Presidential Address. Although he wanted to watch something else, he listened. And he listened intently. Odd, for a nine year old who can hardly finish his math homework without being tied to his chair. During the speech he understood that President Obama was talking about responsible spending. Ben then

Unexpected Nature.

2009-02-24T16:05:00.000-08:00

Of all things to find in Vacaville, a beaver lodge is not one of the ones I would expect to find. A while back, along a jogging trail the city put together, a couple of beavers moved in and set up shop. From what I understand, the Beavers have become something of local celebrities. A one point the city attempted to remove them, but to no avail. They have decided they like where they live

A little introduction for friends found.

2009-02-24T13:27:00.001-08:00

With the advent of my facebook page I have connected with quite a few people from my past. So I'm sure, over the next few days, I'll be adding to the blog roll of people I am following. Welcome to all and any who stop by my little corner of the internet. And for those who read my last post as their opener, I promise, its not all so gushy.

I'm facing the truth, and getting the better of it (as I see it anyway)

2009-02-22T09:16:00.000-08:00

I have been debating this post for a while now. Should I put my feelings to words? Should I then post these words on the web for anyone to read? Should I open myself up in such a way that leaves nothing to hide? I have started and erased this post a dozen times now. Finally, I have decided to open up about a few things. But first, there needs to be a bit of back story: On December 2nd, 2007 I

The Social Networking Revolution

2009-02-20T08:07:00.000-08:00

I recently sat down in my friend Dean's office. He looked at me and said, in all seriousness, "I've hit an all time low." For a brief second I sat wondering what dire news he was about to deliver to me. A thousand different scenarios went through my head in less than a second, yet that second seemed to take hour to transpire. Dean, not realizing the mental trauma I had just suffered at the

An old hobby resurrected.

2009-02-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

Somewhere along the line I started keeping fish. With a little bit of studying and a little preparation, I jumped right in to the hobby. When I moved up here almost 7 years ago, the hobby must not have moved up here with me. I have posted in the past my pursuit of a hobby, and I am happy to report that I didn't have to go very far once I simply opened my eyes and looked around. Some of my

Lessons in life are taught at night (at least this night)

2009-02-11T22:13:00.001-08:00

Today I learned a small lesson. I can't control everything. I guess this seems like an obvious statement, and some might even call me ridiculous for making such a statement (or at least waiting until I am 32 years old to figure it out). For this lesson, I thank two of my friends. They don't even know they were involved in this little bit of learning that is simply part of life. There wasn't an

Sailing the Single Sea - Part Duex (thats pronounced "duh")

2009-02-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

When last we left our fearless travelers, they had finished a fantastic day on Catalina. Where to next? Mexico! We meandered the vessel throughout the night and finally made our way to bed. When we awoke, we were in a foreign land. No, it wasn't like we woke up in OZ (we knew this from the lack of munchkins and no yellow brick road). We were in Ensenada.Bienvenido a Mexico!! This is quite

Cruising, I get wet, wife doesn't, and Bison roam the streets.

2009-02-08T22:35:00.001-08:00

I have been trying to post something regarding our little Vacation, but have been having trouble accomplishing this task. I think I have come to the conclusion that I am trying to cram too much information into a single post. So, I will be breaking it into pieces. So, without further ado, Cruising the 1 Sea (we never saw the other 6) - Part 1. Leaving out of Eureka for Southern California is

A history of Avalon and my plans for the "Isle of the Blessed"

2009-01-31T10:39:00.000-08:00

Avalon. In Arthurian legend, the fabled island where the sword Caliburn (later renamed Excalibur) was forged. This is also where King Arthur was taken to recover from his wounds after his epic battle with Mordred, his inbred-bastardized son. Arthurian legend also makes specific reference to the quality apples on this island. Even the word Avalon itself derives from the Celtic word Abal, meaning

Rehashing the week.

2009-01-29T10:35:00.000-08:00

It seems as though I have not managed to post something a very long time. In actuality, its been about a week. So I think a little recap is in order. The big event last week was fishing Ruth Lake. Now Ruth is actually a reservoir, and certainly not all that big. An example, from the South end to the North end, in a boat, only takes a couple of minutes. The good thing about Ruth are the large

A road trip, a few sights to see, and I almost get eaten by an elk.

2009-01-13T18:43:00.000-08:00

Today I was supposed to go to the gym. However, I had a hard enough time dragging my butt out of bed, let alone getting enough energy to go to the gym. I did, however, take a little road trip with Cody. And of course, I took my camera. We started by going to Crescent City. Cody, from an eBay auction, bought about 100 mason jars for 40 bucks (a real deal according to him). So we started our day

Gym Challenge goes afoul....

2009-01-13T09:26:00.000-08:00

This sucks. Gym challenge was slated to begin Monday. Saturday night I was throwing up and now I am fighting a horrendous head cold (which apparently has been going around at work). I wish I had more to say on the subject. Simply put, I am hoping with a little rest I can still get in the 4 workouts before Saturday comes to a close. As for today, Cody is looking for some company to make a

Time to get my lazy carcass in gear.

2009-01-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has ever held to some sort of fitness regimen knows that one of the most challenging things to do is actually hold to it. About 8 months before Wife and I were married I actually held to my regimen. I was at the gym about 5 times a week. I had a few things going for me then. First, I was working night shift, which meant I would go in the morning when I got home from work. This in

A clarification on the importance of friends.

2009-01-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

So, after such a gushing, sappy, somewhat corny vow of thanks to my friends, they have proven themselves to be nothing but jackasses. I called friend #1 at his office the other day. He answered the phone and identified himself. I then identified myself and asked how he was doing. To which he replied, "Well, number 1 is doing just fine." It took me a few seconds to catch on to his meaning. Then

A few words on friends (grab a tissue or two if you find yourself emotional)

2009-01-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

I have a few things to say about friends.But first, let me preface with a little bit if background.When I was younger, I never went out of my way to be very social. I wouldn't say I was recluse, I think that would be overstating the fact. But simply said, all through junior high and high school I think I could count my close friends on 10 fingers or less. We did everything together and I never