November 2005 Archives

The end of yet another semester approaches rapidly and I am just clicking the items off the list of things to get done right and left. My final GIS project is in the can (or more precisely on the poster), my project proposal for Senior Seminar in Geography is past the first draft along with the accompanying PowerPoint. Our team did our Sed/Strat presentation this morning (great job, Cassie and Kylie!) so all that is left is to get the papers and lab reports cleaned up and turned in. We got one more assignment in Maps and Remote Sensing (the class that is going to the bitter end) and my only final exam, too. I have to get caught up in Geophysics (sorry, Hal, you are at the bottom of the list :-() but I will this weekend. I know I always think that the semester goes fast, but this one really did. Why? I think it feels that way when you are taking a full load of classes, all of which you really like! I had no duds this semester, not even an inkling of one. But they were all very, very demanding. As usual, I had far too many things on my plate and I got behind. Good thing is that I have two weeks to get back to normal, whatever that is! Just 18 days until Mary graduates (I am jealous!) and 25 days 'til Christmas! It is going to be an exciting December this year! More later, now back to working on Geophysics...

Mary and I spent the afternoon celebrating with our friend and classmate, Jason, and his new bride, Megan. Best wishes to them both!

Trying something new called FilmLoop. You can upload up to 200 pictures per loop with a simple desktop tool (Windows now, Mac soon) and it appears you can create as many loops as you like. Nifty feature of the tool is that you can also imbed it in your blog like I have done at the top of the right-hand column. Neatest thing - no waiting for the Flickr folks to admit you to their club... still waiting :-(

Just scanning CNN before heading off to GIS class and I came across the latest atrocity in the FEMA versus Katrina hearings. The article, while further telling the tale of the inept and maybe criminal behavior of the Department of Homeland Stupidity, is not the best read. Do take a moment to read the collection of email and Blackberry messages (PDF format) sent by these fools. As I have said time and time again, lose the PDA's and personal devices. They only get you into trouble and further go to show how you are not doing your job. Like this important message sent to the chief FEMA fool... Yeah, look dumb like your fearless leader. Roll up your sleeves and make believe you are working harder. Dumb and dumber.

Couldn't resist adding this, from a classmate of mine's AOL/AIM profile...

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Self-imposed because of a ton of work at school and outside, this hiatus is coming to end. A full class load, three internships, the fire company, politics, and, yes, attempting to get at least a few minutes sleep every night kept me away from this keyboard. I find it funny that I always seem to hear from my few readers when I take pauses like this one. Favorable comments as in did you know that Jim blogs or I always enjoying stopping by to see what's up with you. Funny thing is that I use this more as an outlet, at times for frustration, rather than journaling my life or being a citizen journalist. I dread that term, coined by MSNBC. Seriously, those that they hit on the air and on their web site are not on my must f-ing read every minute list. Blog roll? No time. If you are curious, check my Furl. Even there, you will not find my daily reads. Why? Because I have none. Sure, I read the usual political suspects every day or so. Actually, Dan or Mary usually tell me what they read on them so why bother... And I have so many good friends who take the time to share what they find via email or IM. Really, I should be President of the United States (NOT!), with all the personal clippings services I have. Thanks to all of you. Anyway, I have a few minutes breathing time now just to bring this saga up-to-date before I am off and running again. All is well at the fire company - call volumes appear to be on the rise again - not a good thing since we would much rather just practice. Most of the accidents appear to be the usual mixture of alcohol, speed, and not paying attention. Best advise is to let someone else drive if you have had a few, put down your latte, and, above all, make that phone call after you are standing still. Slow down - getting their a minute earlier doesn't matter if you don't make it there. Oh, and while we are on the issue of the fire company, please show a little courtesy to volunteers when they have their blue lights on, responding to a call. No, you don't have to pull over, no, we can't run red lights and stop signs, or speed, but yes, you can at least yield us the right of way at a stop sign or on long stretched of two-lane roads. Remember, we may be responding to a fire at your house. Two-thirds of the way through the fall semester at school and I am behind as usual. Actually, in three out of five, I am fine (tired, but fine). I have to get caught up on the other two this week, period. I can't get any more in arrears or I will be sunk. We've got a overnight weekend field trip out to Western Pennsylvania for Sed/Strat so that will throw a wrench into the works. My internships are there - one is sort of is stasis, the second is in progress, but the third is moving full steam ahead. I have to get them back on track this week, too. Mary's been working around the outside and inside the house this past week and I must get into gear on that as well. Maybe Thursday... maybe I shouldn't be writing this, but working instead. Well, I have made some progress on inside the house stuff and, yes, the trash got out this morning. I hate this time of year with the leaves falling, the temperatures dropping, and the days growing shorter and shorter. Oh well, spring is only five months off! Upcoming events include Election Day next Tuesday. Off year elections are just as important as the federal ones. We have to gain power at the local level of government to succeed on the national level. Vote, dammit! That's it - I have to get ready for a function on campus as well as a meeting of our local progressive democrats group. Time to hustle!