Got the Keys

Well, we picked up the keys to the house yesterday, and I realized something: I just spent a honkin' lot of money! Yeah, I know we got a house, and that builds equity (eventually). But still, the way it hit was funny. I was standing in the kitchen with my wife, made my statement, and watched as her eyes got really big. Then she asked me to not say that again. (She's so cute.)

Anyway, now the real insanity begins. Grout sealing, painting, appliance delivery, garage door opener install, ceiling fan install, furniture moving...AAAUUUUGHHH!! I think I just sprained something thinking about it!

I did, however, order new checks, business cards with our new address, and got the gas, electric, garbage, etc., changed over. At least there is SOME progress.

Keep watching this site, as my brain slowly turns to mush.

First time homeowners

I haven't written in awhile...quelle surprise! Things have been insane. I will write more in the future, but for now, just a comment.

After over half a year, my wife and I have completed the purchase of our first home. I never thought that I would buy a home for the first time in my mid-forties, but sometimes things work out that way. We were getting so tired of our apartment; having rude upstairs neighbors who think that imitating an ogre stomping through the brush is a nice way to say "hello" is just a blast.

Still, without our city's affordable purchase program, it never would have happened. So, over the next few weeks, I'm going to be involved in painting, grout sealing, purchasing, installing, and moving a variety of items to get moved in to our new place. I'm nervous. I haven't changed residence in over 15 years. I hadn't changed congregations in 13. Now, I'm in a French congregation and am moving in to a new house. May Jehovah give me strength...I'm going to need it.

More later as we go through the process. I'll try to keep a running update to put my insanity into words.

September - Isn't this supposed to be Fall?

Well, here it is, September 30. It's around 91 degrees outside. I hate California summers. I have lived here all of my life, but for one semester I spent autumn in upstate New York. Mind you, I hated the city I lived in. But autumn there really felt like autumn. There was a crispness in the air and the leaves were turning incredible shades of yellow, orange, and red. Here in California, the pine needles are a lovely shade of brown from the summer heat, and sap from the trees rains down upon my car windshield, making a sticky, opaque mess.

What in the world am I talking about? I don't know. I just hate hot weather and am looking forward to cooler temps.

I just thought I would jot down a few thoughts as of today.

Paralegal: I have finished my paralegal courses. Due to my hard work and focus, I have determined that I don't want to be a paralegal. Not now, anyway. Not until attorneys actually band together and determine that they will use the English language as the basis for all paperwork used in contracts, legal documents, and discussions. No wonder people hate and mistrust lawyers; no one can understand a word they say!

Baseball: Who cares? The A's were destroyed by midseason trades and the Giants had one good player.

Football: Al Davis needs to volunteer to be the poster child for the American Alzheimer's Association. "Please...don't let this happen to your family members. Support the American Alzheimer's Association." Al, sell the team.

Basketball: What's this tingling in my chest? Could it be...I'm excited about this year's Kings team? I see a positive aspect in Ron-Ron's departure? Or is it just that I had one too many bean burritos for lunch?

A personal note: Without going into a lot of detail, we've been in the process of buying a house. We should have closed 2 weeks ago, but for issues faced with the builder. I won't talk about it now, as I don't want anything else to interfere with the deal. Once everything is signed, sealed, and delivered, and we are in the new house, I'll tell you all about it. (Shameless plug for the future...)

Rant Time

Okay. It's time for a rant. My topic today: personal responsibility. In this case, the personal responsibility I mean is taking responsibility when you have done something wrong.

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I were out and about in our relatively new car. I say relatively because it is 1 1/2 years old, but looks brand new. We get home and I look down near the rear tire and realize that someone has hit our car. Not hard, but hard enough where the other car left paint on our car, the rim was scratched, and the bumper was dented. The dent wasn't bad, but it popped the bumper out of place on one end.

The person that did this had to know that he or she hit my car. Had to! I would like to say that no one is stupid enough that they wouldn't notice, but I'm sure I would be wrong. Anyway, there was no note; no phone number; not even a scribbled "sorry" on a gum wrapper.

I took the car to my repair shop to see if they could pop it back into place. They informed me that they could not do so due to damage to the underside of the bumper. It would have to be replaced at a body shop. I haven't priced it, but you can probably estimate around a grand.

I'm not going to get it repaired right now. I can't afford to blow a thousand dollars on a small thing like this. But where is the person that did it? Where is the personal responsibility for one's actions?

The Bible says that "he who is faithful in little is also faithful in much". If someone is this irresponsible for something like this, would you hire him or her to work for you? Would you trust the person to babysit for you?

Frankly, I'd like to say this as simply and honestly as I can as an open comment to the wrongdoer (yeah...as if he or she reads this...or if he or she CAN read): You, sir or madam, are a coward of the first degree. Your insurance might have covered it, or you could have paid for it, or if you were broke, I might have said to forget the whole matter. But instead, you ran. You left without an apology or taking responsibility. You are a wuss and a weasel.

Am I harsh? Maybe. But forgiveness comes with repentance. This person obviously had no intention of taking responsibility for his or her actions, so it seems there is no repentance.

May a weasel get loose in your shorts.

I'm done now.

How Long Has It Been?

This post is basically a placeholder. Why? Because my brain is about to fall out of my head! Busy, busy, busy.

Quick update on HOW busy: improving my French by conducting meetings and WT at French Group; finishing up my paralegal courses (7 weeks to go); househunting/buying; work; work; field service; work; congregation; work...etc., etc., etc.

Random thoughts:

You ever get the feeling that people don't want ANYONE as President? Everyone complains that they don't like either candidate...again. (That's why I support the Kingdom government, folks!)

Artest gone...just a few more to go before the true rebuilding can begin.

I thought I saw the sky the other day...and it wasn't brown!!!

I hate rude upstairs neighbors, and idiots who think that screaming and playing the harmonica outside at 4 am is a good idea. Jerks.

Coffee...gooooood....

Sleepiness...baaaddddd....

Maybe more later...maybe not.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

A big week is coming up for my family.  After 14 years we are changing congregations.  It isn't just a normal kind of change, but a change to a foreign language group.  For us, it's the opportunity to serve where the need is greater in an area close to home.  But that doesn't mean that it isn't stressful.

When my wife and future adopted son moved to this country, my son couldn't speak English.  My wife was fluent in the language, but still she was moving from an area where she spoke, read, and thought in French to a place where very few seemed to understand the language.  I can only imagine how hard it was for her to leave her family and friends and move to the other side of the world to be with me in an English-speaking country.  Yet, she managed it beautifully, and has since become a citizen.  I look back and I feel nothing but love and admiration for her sacrifice, but also for her courage.  It couldn't have been easy.

Now, I'm trying to repay her favor in a small way.  I've never handled change well.  I have lived in the same apartment for around 18 years(!!), have been at the same job for 14 years, and as I wrote earlier, have been in the same congregation for 14 years.  Did I mention that I don't like change?  Yet, here I am, changing everything.  Most of my congregation meetings will be in French.  I'll still be an elder in the congregation, but I'll also be one of the "eldest" members of the group.  (How did 44 become old??)  I'll have to travel a bit farther to get to this congregation, too.  

So how do I feel?  Nervous, that's for sure.  But there's also an excitement in the air.  There's the feeling that I'm doing something good and that for one of the few times in my life I'm actually stretching my comfort zone out and making room for something more.  And through it all, I know that my wonderful wife will be able to help me through it, because she's gone through more than this.

Why am I writing this?  Because it helps.  And because that if there is anyone actually reading this, maybe they will realize that if I can reach out, they can too.  Just because they call it a comfort "zone" doesn't mean that it can't grow to include more area.  

Been a Long Time

Here we go again. I found a few minutes, some energy, a keyboard, and enough wits to add an entry to my blog. Why? I still don't know. One of these days I'm going to have to find a way to get some readers. Anyway, here's an update on what's doin'.

As of May 1, I will be moving full time from an English congregation to a French language congregation. What does that mean? It means that all of my meetings will take place in French, all of my parts will be conducted in French, all of the preaching work will be done in French, and all of my brains will leak out of my ears. (Hey! Leave out those "what brains?" comments!!)

Even though I will miss seeing my friends in Ridgeview as frequently as before, I'll still be living in the same place, so I will be able to continue to visit with them socially. The big challenge will be to improve my language skills so I don't feel so awkward and lost in French. But I take great joy in seeing the zeal and the effort in those who are currently a part of the French group. Many of them are just learning the language and show courage in responding in French despite the struggles. They are wonderful, humble, and fun-loving people who love Jehovah very much, and I am flattered and humbled myself that they have welcomed us so warmly. They just need to realize that I am not fluent. They seem to think I'm a modern Maurice Chevalier! Ah well.

Kings - Dead for the playoffs. There's no big surprise there. There are just too many good teams in the west. But, memo to Geoff Petrie: Get rid of Ron-Ron. Please? He sits out a game, comes back against the Lakers, and has zero assists. Yeah. That's who I want on the court. Lose him. Take the hit on Kenny Thomas' contract and lose him, too. Trade Francisco Garcia while he has value. Not because he isn't good, but because he's not going to get a lot of playing time. Re-sign Beno Udrich (good point guards are hard to find). Then, take that draft pick, and package it with someone and get some experience on the floor to lead these kids.

Raiders and 49ers - A moment of silence, please, for the upcoming season.

A's - They probably won't be as bad as some expect, but there's no way they'll challenge for anything. But aren't you all glad that Barry Zito left for the ...

Giants - The over/under for wins this season is now 20 in my opinion, and I'm taking the under. (P-U!)

Politics - Is anyone else sick of the whining yet? No? How 'bout now?

Television - Is it just me, or is there absolutely NOTHING worth watching on the tube now? I mean seriously. In any given week, there is nothing with intelligence on the air that doesn't involve shooting, knifing, or sex! (Oh how we miss you, Aaron Sorkin. Studio 60, we hardly knew ye.)

DVDs - Just FYI, the word is out that one of my favorite animated series of all time will be coming out on dvd soon. Pick up Freakazoid! in July. You'll laugh so hard that you'll break all your furniture.

I'll try not to stay away so long.

Still Kickin'... Barely

Judging by the complete lack of comments, I know that no one is really missing this blog. (Except Asia...) Still, I feel the compulsion to write a bit today since I have a few minutes.

My paralegal courses are kicking my butt. It isn't that the work is so hard, but there's just so much of it. Add to that my work in my congregation, my move to the French group, and the search for a new residence...I'm beat.

Let's play the topic game today.

Politics: I don't get involved. But it's interesting to see that California is predicting a huge turnout of ... well ... the high 30 percent of registered voters. Isn't that pretty pathetic? An election with more coverage and interest than has been shown in years, and California is expecting the high 30s? It makes me laugh. Or at least snicker.

Real Estate: I'm starting a search for my first house. I've lived in an apartment all of my life and my lease is about to expire, so I'm looking into the idea of buying a home. I'm finding it very disheartening, though. I can't afford typical California prices, and the houses I can afford are in places that are not appealing in terms of safety, traffic, and distance. I know that if you want certain things that you have to pay for them, but this is kind of ridiculous. My monthly housing budget is enough to buy a very nice place in Raleigh, NC, but in northern California I can probably afford an empty washing machine box behind Best Buy. It looks like I may be signing another lease. That bites. I'd love to be able to own my own home, even though it scares me. I'm really tired of the people upstairs making my walls shake with their heavy walking. I want peace and quiet. But I don't have the funds. It's very discouraging.

Super Bowl: Didn't watch it, didn't care. Still don't care.

Kings: Does anyone but me think the Kings would be better trading Artest and Bibby for some future draft picks? I know it doesn't work like that in the NBA, but that's what I would like to see happen.

Paralegal Classes: I'm not sure this is the career for me. I hate offices, but thought I could do some immigration paralegal work. There just doesn't seem to be many jobs out there for that area, and I sure don't want to work for an ambulance chaser.

French: Is there a reason why my wife and family say that I do a good job speaking French and I feel like I'm still sounding like a Parisian Tarzan?

Anyway, that's it for now. I'll try to post more often, but I don't see much free time at any point in the future. Best to anyone who dares to read. If you do, do me a favor and pass on this blog addy to others. I'd really like some feedback from folks.

TTFN

Time Also Flies - When You're Losing Your Mind

A quick post, since my only reader Asia is quickly losing her grip on reality.

It's been an incredibly busy time, which further explains the lack of posts.  Between insane end of the year work in the payroll department, finishing my Associates' degree in Liberal Arts, fending off boredom and frustration in my Paralegal courses, and dealing with numerous other demands on my time, I haven't had any time at all to post anything.  So, I'm going to take a moment to give some more random thoughts.

Pakistan:  If anyone thinks that the governments of this world can make things better in the long run, just look at what's going on.  Someone assassinates Bhutto for whatever reason, and they think that it makes things better for them.  How?  In the end, violence begets violence and that region is already close to exploding.  

Baseball and HGH:  Boy, Roger Clemens is in a spot.  He says he's innocent of the use of human growth hormones.  But if he sues, then he can be deposed, which means that they can ask him any number of questions under oath.  You just know he doesn't want to do that.  But then, Pete Rose opens his big yap and says that these players have brought shame to the game.  Really, Pete?  And your gambling on baseball while you were a manager was ... what?  Good?  Less harmful?  Shut up, Pete.  You still need to learn that prized behavior, humility.  As for the problem itself, there's no way to go back and look for people to punish.  It won't work.  And Selig can't go on a witch hunt without pointing four fingers back at himself, and another finger at the Players' Union.  Just admit it was a problem, that a large number of players did it, start testing for it and punishing users now, and don't let it happen again.  That's your only option that makes sense.

The Primaries:  Boy am I glad that I don't have any part in the political matters in this country.  I have to admit, though; the humor possibilities are endless.

The Spears Family:  Go away.  I beg you.  Just go away and take Lindsay and Paris with you.  (Side note:  the mothers' book on parenting skills just moved from the "how to" section to the "science fiction" section of your local Borders.)

Writers' Strike:  Does anyone really miss network television?  And when are they going to stop calling shows "reality" series?  Do any one of these idiotic shows even remotely resemble reality?  Besides, I don't think the general public deserves good television if they didn't give Studio 60 on Sunset Strip a fair chance.  What a loss.  If you haven't done so, rent it on Netflix or just go buy it.  Quality television at its best.  Aaron Sorkin, on behalf of the viewing public, I apologize.  Please bring us another great series, but this time put it on a cable channel that will appreciate it.  (Just not HBO...I don't subscribe to it.)

That's all for now.  I'll try to check in again soon, if anyone really cares.  And if anyone reads this, please drop me a comment.  I'd love to read your thoughts.

A Few Moments

If I described the last few weeks as tough, I would be greatly understating the amount of work and pressure that has been grinding me into dust. Still, now that I have a moment, I thought that I would throw a post in here. I'm not doing this for any readers, since I only have one (Hi, Asia!). I do this for the sake of refreshment for my brain. Sometimes, just writing silliness calms my mind.

So, what should be the silliness for today? Should it be the presidential races? Nah. Too political. How about the fires in Southern California or the droughts in the south? No, too depressing.

So, today I would like to copy one Stephen Colbert and play "Tip of the Hat / Wag of the Finger". In fact, this is a "wag of the finger" to - Stephen Colbert!

Comedy is a strange thing. As humans, we all find different things to be humorous. Personally, I find the Three Stooges, the Marx Brothers, Alton Brown (Good Eats!), and Monty Python to be very funny. I also find Donald Trump and the WWE to be very funny, but in a different way. What I don't find funny is a comedian who feels that humor involves bad language. There are a number of comedians out there who drop "f-bombs" or the like with every other sentence to shock the audience into laughing. Even Jeff Foxworthy gets a little graphic about his love life from time to time.

There are a few comedians, though, who are funny while keeping it clean. I understand that Sinbad refuses to use bad language in his act, and I salute him. Stephen Colbert in his show "The Colbert Report" is very funny. I especially like "The Word", but the show is hilarious for its sarcasm, its tongue-in-cheek jabs at society and its leaders, and Colbert's creation of his alter-ego as a conservative extremist. (I saw him a few times on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", and he isn't like that.

Thus, I was happy to pick up his book, "I Am America (And So Can You!)" That happiness didn't last, as Mr. Colbert felt the need to lob quite a number of "f bombs" and other vulgarities at me as a reader. It stopped being funny very quickly.

Therefore, Mr. Colbert, I send to you a blindfolded "Wag of the Finger" for your strange need to get nasty in your book. You're a funny guy. The character you created claims to value family and clean morals. If only you believed it and proved yourself to be an excellent comedian by not relying on cheap methods to try to get a laugh. Pitiful.

A Few Moments to Spare

I have a few minutes, so I thought I would add a few lines today.

I have just started my paralegal studies and have decided that Lawyerese is its own language. Our studies this week have focused on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. I read one sentence that had to be the equivalent of 6 sentences in English. I guess that's one reason the law can be so intimidating. It is rare to find anything written in simple terms. But I have also discovered that there is a reason for this. Everything that is written for the field of law has to cover many different contingencies. Otherwise, court cases would abound with technicalities that thwart the efforts to apply justice.

Common, everyday English can be very fluid, and leave a lot of room for interpretation. The law cannot do that. For example, what is murder? It is easy to say that it is one person who purposely kills another. But the law cannot allow for such a wide use of terms. If we left it at that, then we cannot allow for circumstance or state of mind or the like. It would be nice to say that murder is murder, but it just isn't that simple.

That having been said, it sure would be nice if these paralegal textbooks carried more examples, and if the FRCP had a "plain English" translation alongside for rookies. But, they don't, and I have to fight off the desire to run screaming into the night rather than make sense of how to serve a summons.

It's going to be a looooong series of classes. Sure, it will be about 6 months, but it's going to feel long. (I wonder how that would be described in Legalese?)

Few and Far Between

Well, my efforts of keeping this blog going on a daily basis has hit a snag.  My English course at the local community college was no big problem.  However, adding the paralegal course has caused my time to be at a premium.  Therefore, I am going to have to return to "catch as catch can" on my postings.

I'll try to do it as often as I can.  Sorry for my inability to do more.

First Impressions

Well, I did it. I bought an iPhone. So, like everyone else, I'm going to give my first impressions of this expensive little toy.

First of all, it is sleek. When it is turned off, all you see is a silver frame around a pitch black screen. But when it is turned on, everything comes to life. The registration process with AT&T is easy, but I'm sure that it was easier on my iBook than it would be on a Windows PC. After the registration, syncing, restarting, syncing again, and disconnecting, I was ready to play.

I think the thing I liked most was the phone and contacts feature. Dialing the phone is simple, and adding and editing the phone contacts are incredibly easy. I was even able to add pictures to my contacts with just a touch. I had to use the pictures that I imported, but it's easy to import more. One of the cool things is that when you call up a photo to use for a contact, you can zoom in and crop the photo to look how you want. It is such an absolutely easy process that I want to add everyone right away!

The Safari browser is a bit slow using the Edge network, but it's great when you hook up via wi-fi. The iPod feature is nice, although a bit less intuitive than the iTunes program on my iBook.

One thing I didn't like is the inability to bring in .mp3 ringtones or use a song that's already in your iPod as a ringtone. You can go into iTunes and create and download a ringtone for 99 cents (which is far less expensive than it is to download one online through normal AT&T methods), but it still seems a bit unfair to charge me twice for the same song. I also have a short song I want to use as a ringtone, but the current methods don't allow for it. Come on, Apple! Don't you make enough money from the phone itself???

Another negative is the lack of voice dialing. Apple needs to add this feature, especially for those who use a bluetooth headset and need to dial while driving. With voice dialing, I don't even have to take a look at the phone.

Overall, my first impression is one of glee. I can tell I'm going to have a lot of fun with this phone. That is, if I can get my co-workers to quit asking to see it.

Needing Focus

Have you ever had something that you are supposed to do but have no real set schedule as to when it is supposed to be done? That is a real challenge for me, as I will procrastinate until the cows come home.

The problem is, this is no longer an option for me, at least for the next 26 weeks or so. I am currently completing a writing course, which ends in December, and as of this coming Monday, I am also going to be starting a fast-track paralegal course. Both of these classes are in addition to my spiritual and family responsibilities.

So what is the solution? It's especially tough for someone who has attention issues as I do. So, here is my plan based on what has worked for me recently:

1) Schedule everything. There can be no deviations. If part of an assignment, reading, writing, or studying is scheduled for a particular day, that task must be completed before bedtime.

2) Prioritize. Ideally, I should do this while making my schedules, but at times this might have to be done on the fly.

3) Celebrate the small victories. They are victories, you know. When a large assignment is done on time and my other activities haven't suffered, I need to treat myself somehow, whether it is with a particularly good cup of coffee or a day off.

4) Don't ignore my family and even rely on them. I have a wonderful wife who is a huge help and support. I can't be so proud that I turn down help from her. I also can't focus so much on my tasks that I forget that she is the most important human being in my life. I have good kids, too, who don't demand more than I can give. They need less attention now that they are older, but they still need my time and my praise from time to time.

5) Pray. 'Nuff said.

In the end, the only way I can finish these courses without going insane is to keep my eyes focused on the goals and the reasons for these efforts. If I do that, and I follow my own instructions, I may make it through the next six months with just a minor need for a lobotomy.

Pick Yourself Up...

OK...so my posts lost their regularity. I'm not going to let it get me down. Instead, I'm going to infuse a bit of literary Metamucil and try to get regular again.

I'm about 2 months away from getting my AA degree. That's 25 years after my high school graduation. Even though I berate myself for taking this long, I do feel good that I have finally accomplished something in this area. As such, my wife has told me that I deserve a graduation present. (Awwwwwww......cute.)

The problem here isn't that I don't deserve a present (which I don't think I do), but instead it is how to justify spending money on myself. I don't like to do this, because every time that I do I tend to buy something absolutely pointless. For example, a while ago I bought a Palm TX; a relatively useful item which I do use, though not as regularly as I once did. Still, it has served a purpose. I bought a Nintendo Wii. Useless, but I love it! (Geek alert!) I have my iPod, which I also use every day and I love it. (Level 2 Geek Alert!!) So what graduation gift do I have my greedy little eyes upon? An iPhone. Why? 'Cause it's so darn cool!! (We have achieved Nerdvana! Alert Dilbert writer Scott Adams!) The problem is the price. Even though it has dropped $200 since it was released, it's still $400 plus an extra $15 a month for internet fees. Lots of moolah.

Still, both my wife and son insist that I should get it as a gift for myself. Do I do it? As they say in the old cartoons, "I dood it!"

Nerds of the world unite!

Dealing With New Phones

My wife and son just got their new cell phones today.  They traded Sony Ericsson w600i phones for Razrs.  As soon as they saw them, they loved them.  Until...

Until they realized that even though they transferred their phone directories over via SIM card, they were going to have to "manipulate" them.  In so many words, they are going to have to fix the names and combine the home and cell phone numbers for single persons into single entries.

The phones aren't so much fun now.  sigh...I can't win for trying to do something nice.  I'm sure they'll love them again once everything is fixed.  But for now...

Another thing that cracks me up is that they just jumped right in to playing with the phones instead of reading the instructions first.  Thus, I became their walking, talking, pulling my hair out by the roots instruction book.

It's late.  I'm tired.  It's been a lousy couple of days at work.  I'm going to bed.  Honey, put your phone on silent, will you?  Oh...well check the instruction book on how it's done.

No Time To Blog

It's been one of those days at work. A day when I thought that every piece of equipment, every program, and every employee was out to get me and drive me nuts.

And I was right.

But seriously, it's been a day that I will be trying hard to forget, so I'm going to leave the blog alone today. That's life.

To any of you who are reading this blog, (I think it's just you, Asia), see you tomorrow.

AT&T Makes Things Right With Me

A couple of days ago I complained about AT&T and their website. As of this morning, my feelings had gotten even worse.

I went online to their upgrade site and clicked on the chat button. I tried to communicate my questions to the person on the other end, but the tech simply did a typical cut-and-paste response and didn't respond to any of my questions. Then, she ignored my follow-up postings and then closed the chat.

Annoyed as can be, I decided to try calling AT&T again, although my past discussions about the subject matter had been fruitless. (Yes, it does sound like I was banging my head against the wall.) However, lo and behold, I spoke with someone who actually heard what I was saying. She not only acknowledged the logic in my statements, but made things right! I now have the phones that I wanted for my son and wife on the way, and I have to say that AT&T Business Services showed a human side that many cell phone companies lack.

Before this, I had good experiences with this part of the company, and was distressed that suddenly things were not going as well, but my faith has been restored. I can hereby state that I am still a customer and will be so for another two years. Thanks AT&T. It's nice when something like this happens and a company shows appreciation for a loyal customer. (Now I just have to wait for a month or so and treat myself to an iPhone as a grad present!)

Sports Weekend

Lots of stuff went on this weekend. My blog...my opinions...so there.

Baseball - What a collapse! The Mets went down in flames and frankly, I'll shed no tears. Now if only the Yankees will go down, too. But who am I to brag? I like the Athletics!
I'm also kind of happy to see the Fuzzy Cubbies in the playoffs if for no other reason than to hopefully break the Bartman hatred. Maybe if the Cubs win, then Steve Bartman can come out of hiding. (Do you think some baseball fans take things waaaay too seriously?)
So, out of the teams that are still in it, I'll root (if I root at all) for the D-Backs in the National League (because I'm an Eric Byrnes fan) and the Indians in the A.L. (just because Cleveland could use a break.)

Football - Did anyone else think that the 49ers offensive line looked like a sieve? I'm not amazed that Alex Smith got injured. I am amazed that Trent Dilfer was still standing at the end of the game. Although he didn't do much to worry the Seahawks anyway. Truly a sad display, and I still wonder about Nolan's play calling from the sidelines.
Oakland won?? Oh...it was against Miami. Never mind. Still, it's kind of funny to see the Raiders at the top of the division with a 2 - 2 record. Lane Kiffin is probably going to get an earful from all those who said Daunte Culpepper should have been the starter from game 1.
Arizona beats Pittsburgh....bwah ha ha ha haaaaaa!!!!!
Chicago loses to Detroit .... bwah ha ha ha haaaaaaa!!! (Ouch! My side hurts from laughing too much!!!)

Basketball - The NBA is looking at Sacramento's Cal Expo for a place to build an arena. If it keeps the Kings in Sacramento, I'm all for it. However, to soothe the nerves of the citizens, they had better release a traffic plan that makes sense before they even release the plans for an arena itself. That area is already a nightmare, and an arena is going to make it far worse.
More on the Kings...does anyone else wonder what the heck Petrie is doing? This team looks like such a mixed up hodge-podge right now that I hear the NBADL is thinking of accepting the Kings as one of their teams. I have ZERO hopes for a playoff spot right now with the way the roster looks. Here's hoping the Mr. Petrie has a rabbit somewhere in his clothing if it isn't in his hat.

Poorly Thought Out Website

Today, I would like to tell you about frustration in its purest form.  That frustration revolves around the website of one AT&T Wireless.  I shall explain.

My contract with AT&T will be up in December.  Because of this, I can upgrade my phone or my family's phones at a discount.  So, I went to the website to attempt to do so.  There is a special going on that says if you upgrade to a particular Sony phone, you also get a Bluetooth headset for free.  Now, I tried to click on the link to upgrade my wife's phone.  It listed my name instead of hers.  So, I changed the name to hers.  OK.  Then, I clicked on that model phone, and it added the phone to the cart, but gave no place or information to add the headset.  Hmmm...time to chat with the company, but wait!...they are closed!  You can't even chat with someone from India!  Are you getting the picture?  I also wanted to upgrade my son's phone to get him one of the free Razrs but....they are sold out!  Yay!

You know, AT&T's network has been pretty good for me.  I have had very few problems with dropped calls and such.  But AT&T...your website bites!!!  You are a communications company, for goodness sakes!  Make your website more useful. 

I thank you.