May 2008 Archives
Now that the media center is installed the girls are really loving it. The problem is, I think they have watched "Robots" like 20 times. Its getting pretty old.
I am leaving for Boston on Monday. Yeah, thats right, on Memorial Day. Can you believe it? I have to be there on Tuesday morning early and since flights out of BTR take a good 8-9 hours to get to Boston, I have to leave early. *sigh*
Looks like I will be heading to China as well again. No getting out of this trip. I am hoping it wont be as long as the other ones, but you never know.
I am planning a "do nothing" weekend. I just want to chill and relax if I can all weekend.
Michael, wishing everyone a great memorial day, out.
Sorry for the lack of updates. Things have been nuts.
Next week I am heading to Boston and then off to China for two weeks. I am not really excited about this trip as I am a bit burnt out on China at the moment. Now, if they said South Africa or some place I have never been to before it might be different!
The project is continuing to go on and it seems the scope is growing all the time. So many moving parts and different people needing direct attention. Not enough of me to go around.
Over the past two days I havent been feeling well, nor sleeping well. Not sure if it is food or what but I definatly dont feel myself. I can afford to be sick so close to a trip.
Alyson will be getting a mobile phone and she is very excited. I am a bit worried at what my phone bill will be.
Speaking of bills, the increases are starting to really get on my nerves. My car insurance went up 500 bucks per year (we have had no tickets or accidents) and groceries and fuel is really beginning to hurt with no end in sight. I doubt the Government will fix the problems as most of the time they just make it worse. I think the economy is heading for some rough times.
I have to run, project is calling.
Michael, out.
Wow, it has been a nutty week so far. However for the next 3 days I will be on a "working vacation". My brother in law is coming to help setup my media center. However since this project is spinning like a bunch of plates on poles, I am still "working".
For those of you interested in how I am doing this. My super cool brother in law made a graphic to dumb it down for me.
There isnt much news here other than school will be out soon and the girls and Tara are excited. The girls are also excited about heading to Florida to see my parents by themselves.
Last week we also got the girls pictures taken. That should make my Mom happy (She has been bugging me for the last year since her photos are like 2 years old).
Mothers day has come and gone and the girls got Tara flowers and little cards. My Mom and Dad will be heading to their favorite resurant on me for mothers/fathers day.
Still no news on the book/movie front. Starting to really erk me.
Michael, looking forward to getting his media center up, out.
I haven't talked much about the political machinations that are going on in today's political landscape. I consider myself a fierce independent and although no candidate matches my particular form of what government should be (Can anyone say Parliamentary system?) I still will vote in the general election.
I have always believed that Obama would win the nomination (I realize it is still early but like many Americans, I think Mrs. Clinton is going to lose this battle). Why you may ask? Well there are a few reasons why. Some philosophical, others are more historical. Let's take the "wayback machine" to 1870. On Feb 3, 1870 African-Americans received the right to vote (15th Amendment). Some would argue that this wasn't fully realized until 1965 (with the passage of Voting Rights Act) but in general African Americans got to vote first (BEFORE Women). Now, let's fast forward to 1920 when the 19th Amendment was passed giving Women the right to vote. So in effect, the country was more amenable for a Black Man voting than a White Woman. I realize this is a major overgeneralization, but looking through history, it seems to be true (Remember slavery was outlawed in the UK for years before women received the right to vote, which happened in 1928). [For those of you who are fans of psychohistory and Asimov Sci-fi, you can see I applied bit here]. So in short, Obama will be the Democratic candidate for President (probably.... Even if Clinton can get Delegates seated in FL and MI, she still won't have enough to win).
That being said, we know the presumptive candidate for the Republicans is John McCain. Now, I am totally "colorblind" (My parents did a wonderful job of pointing out the idiocy of racial bias) and care more about what the candidate's character and positions than anything else. However, like any person interested in politics, Charisma plays a major role in electability. Obama has it and brings it. I watch Obama on the news and I feel excited to be an American. His message of Hope (Which he still needs to quantify and explain how we can change the Nations course since we have been driven by a complete nut job in the Oval Office for the last 8 years) is refreshing and exhilarating. He is the "John Kennedy" of my generation. This man could be the first African American President in history. To me, that's an extraordinarily exciting concept. I know die hard Republicans who grudgingly admit that "if it wasn't for his politics, I would vote for him in a minute." Sure he lacks in experience, but there have been some terrible Presidents who have had lots of experience (Buchanan, Fillmore, Harding, and Nixon).
John McCain is a War hero with years of experience (Some would say "too many as old as he is"). His politics align more with my personal views (Government Spending, Gun Control, etc), but his views on Iraq are totally crazy. He doesn't hold a candle to Obama on the charismatic side and his age is a major concern to me. (The last years of the Regan Presidency was a bit tenuous due to Regan's age and the diminished mental capacity. There are documented cases where Regan during his negotiations with the Soviets nearly blundered)
So here I am. Do I vote for someone who excites me and gives me hope? Do I vote for someone who "sorta" aligns more with my political convictions? My Father would say, "You need to vote for someone who is as close to your political convictions". The problem is that Bush also aligns with some of my political ideals (More than Kerry did) and he is/was a disaster for this country. I am conflicted. Other friends of mine are similarly conflicted and have decided not to vote (Which I feel is wrong).
Although I think Obama would be an exciting time and a tremendous opportunity for African Americans, I have a very hard time reconciling his "extreme" policies (Gun control, spending, etc). McCain's views on Iraq are also so disconcerting; I don't know what the right answer is.
So, here I am an undecided voter. I still haven't decided who I would vote for. However, I know who I wouldn't vote for under any circumstance. Hillary.
Michael, still wondering who to vote for, out.
PS: I wish McClane was running!
It's been a crazy few days. it seems like everytime we take one step forward on this project we get pushed back two steps. The progress is slow and terribly frustrating but we are getting there. I have been on calls with China almost every night for the past few weeks. I am pretty sure Tara is tired of it as I know I am. We have augemented the project with consultants which has been taking a load off but they are still learning the project and how the whole thing works so we still need to get involved. I am hoping to get off the project in a few months so I can focus on my PMP and perhaps another certification.
Tara and I did a budget last night. All I can say is wow, food and gas is really hitting our bottom line. Tara will be looking for a new job in the school district but with the added costs of school for the girls (will double since Tara wont work there), food (up 18% in 6 months) gas (up 140% in 12 months). I was hoping to start flight training (I really need to do something outside of work. It seems that work is all I do) but the costs are too high to start. *sigh* Another dream on hold. Looks like just going to the gym will need to be stress relief enough.
Nothing much to report. Kids are looking forward to school being out and they are going to fly to my parents for 10 days over the summer (by themselves). They are excited.
Michael, dreaming of planes, out.
It's been a nice relaxing weekend. I went to IronMan on Friday and enjoyed the movie. It's nice to see darker comic book characters coming into their own. I thought the movie was "pretty good", but a bit over hyped. Still its worth seeing and I thought the acting was well done. Make sure you stay to after the credits to see what might be in IronMan's future. :)
No work weekend. (Well, a little but not too much).
Michael, out.
For those of you interested in the Book/Movie/TV show, it isnt dead yet. Talked to my partners yesterday and the Producer is in Cannes this week and talking to another producer. We are still crossing our fingers and hoping this project gets off the ground. From what I understand about this whole process it takes time but when it finally gets going, its like a jauggernaught.
I am very sore. I have started working out again and I am paying the price for a LONG break. I need to get in shape through.
Yesterday when I came home from work, I went right in my bedroom and laid down. I woke up at 7pm, ate dinner, did some work and went right back to bed. I was totally wiped out.
Nothing much to report. Still tired.
Michael, out.
