Sheila and I were married four years ago today. In two days it will be exactly six years when we first met. Things were so much different then and things are so much better now.
I can't remember who it was who first told me that I should drop to one knee and pop the question. It was either Jeff Handt or it was Birdman. I know both of them said that. I don't think Jeff Handt had met her yet then, but he knew. And so did Birdman.
I'm amazed at how happy a soul can be. I am very blessed to have her.
Showing posts with label sheila. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sheila. Show all posts
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Another Round of News and Random Observations
I was stuck up here in Las Vegas for the Thanksgiving weekend. It wasn't my idea, but one half mile into my intended journey to Tucson two days ago, smoke started coming out of the engine compartment of my truck. I was able to make it safely back to the apartment complex that has been my base of operations here, (I refuse to call it "home"), and the next day I had the truck towed to a trustworthy mechanic.
After 427,000 miles, the motor in my truck is kaput. I was shown the evidence (I didn't have to ask to see it), and although I don't like this kind of news, things could have been much worse. I might have been stranded in Wikieup and having to take unpaid leave to get this taken care of.
I discussed this at length with Sheila (she is really a *great* wife!), and we're going to see if we can get a remanufactured motor located and installed. It's going to run me a few grand, and it's cheaper than a replacement vehicle, which we both know sooner or later we're going to have to get. We are having the mechanic give it a thorough inspection to make sure the rest of the truck is in good order. The body is in fine shape though it could use a paint job, and I know that the ball joints aren't going to be going out any time soon. The present clutch has 30K miles on it and should be good for 50K more.
This will be, however, the last major repair I'm willing to do. We may re-arrange some finances after next year's tax return........we're thinking of a re-finance, and I may borrow against the house to put in a new stove and fix the hot tub.
This could have been a lot worse for me than it was.
And........I got my money's worth out of it.
One thing I am grateful for here in Las Vegas is a friendship with a co-worker who started here six weeks after I did. We're both in the Test Engineering Department and like me, his wife is in another state, Florida. He lived in Titusville for 34 years, of all places. We've gone on a lot of lunchtime walks and we meet Downtown for a beer, which we did yesterday.
That one table that was set up to raise funds for child sex trafficking has been long gone, (they weren't there the following Saturday when I checked), so either they've succeeded in ending this trafficking or they've skipped town.
I was Downtown last Saturday, not knowing or intending that I'd be Downtown again the following Saturday, which was yesterday. While conversing with the cashier cage personnel at that Plaza Hotel-Casino eight days ago, I noticed several trays of Eisenhower dollars ("Ikes") and I thought OK, someone must have cashed in their hoard.
Ron and I went in there yesterday, to check out John Gotti's Jaguar which is on display not too far from the cashier cage. We drifted over to the slot machines that were nearby, and Ron played a few hands of video poker. He cashed out and got a collection of shiny new nickels. Most Vegas slots are TITO, ticket in ticket out, though coin slots can be found if you know where to go (La Bayou Casino has several of them).
Before walking away, I noticed a dollar video poker machine that had a coin slot (as well as a dollar bill reader). I also noticed a stack of coin buckets to carry your winnings (or more accurately, what you have left). I got to thinking about those Ike dollars that I saw last week, so I said to Ron, "I need to check out something".
I fed a dollar bill into the machine, cashed out, and a shiny new Ike dollar fell into the coin tray. Well, it was certainly shiny, but not new, since it was dated 1972, but I got a kick out of getting that. I've got 100 or so of these things in my safe back in Tucson, but it's fun to have one here to look at. Ron also got himself one in the same way.
Five years ago, I would order Ikes at a Wells Fargo branch, and sell most of them to a friend of mine in Tucson who's the manager of a Quik Trip. He was always asking me for two dollar bills and Ikes, so that he could hand them out to his customers.....most of whom would get a kick out of getting some novelty money back in change. More were sold to a long time friend of mine who runs a business at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet.
Unfortunately, Wells Fargo down there hasn't been able to get them for me for some time, and I haven't tried to get any at the banks here. I have thought about it, because these coins did circulate in Nevada during their day.
I'm tempted to get $20 or $40 worth of Ikes on my next visit to the Plaza and to spend them.
Using "unusual" money is fun.
A few rare words about my job.
I have now been with this employer for a year. It's been something of a ride. I was hired into Systems Engineering, transferred into Test Engineering, working closely with some very brilliant people in a group I'll call "Life Sciences", and the company is willing to let me spend a few weeks coming up to speed on a software package called Solid Works.
I am an electrical engineer by degree, a test engineer by practice, and I now get to learn Solid Works, which is really in the realm of mechanical engineering. The first tutorial was something of a bear, and the succeeding tutorials are either better written, or I'm getting the hang of things.
This is something that my previous employer would not have allowed me to do. I was forced to do software systems engineering, which really wasn't my forte, though that work was "righteous" (I'm stealing a term from a former supervisor here). That employer and the one before it didn't really allow me to practice electrical engineering which is what I studied, but I'm not complaining. I did get to work on satellites and circuit card assemblies, and I've long considered that to be satisfying work.
I struggle sometimes with the why I had to come to Nevada while my wife is in Arizona question. I struggled with that this weekend.
The only answer that I can come up with, is that the Good Lord wants me here for reasons that have not been passed along to me, and they may never be passed along to me.
I have to say this.........the work that I'm doing is the greatest that I've ever done in my life.
And.......I'm living in a most unusual state.........legalized gambling.........24/7 availability of liquor......and an opportunity to people watch Downtown.
I frequently tell myself that I need to make the most of this opportunity, and to write about what I see when I venture into the casinos or walk along Fremont Street.
After 427,000 miles, the motor in my truck is kaput. I was shown the evidence (I didn't have to ask to see it), and although I don't like this kind of news, things could have been much worse. I might have been stranded in Wikieup and having to take unpaid leave to get this taken care of.
I discussed this at length with Sheila (she is really a *great* wife!), and we're going to see if we can get a remanufactured motor located and installed. It's going to run me a few grand, and it's cheaper than a replacement vehicle, which we both know sooner or later we're going to have to get. We are having the mechanic give it a thorough inspection to make sure the rest of the truck is in good order. The body is in fine shape though it could use a paint job, and I know that the ball joints aren't going to be going out any time soon. The present clutch has 30K miles on it and should be good for 50K more.
This will be, however, the last major repair I'm willing to do. We may re-arrange some finances after next year's tax return........we're thinking of a re-finance, and I may borrow against the house to put in a new stove and fix the hot tub.
This could have been a lot worse for me than it was.
And........I got my money's worth out of it.
* * * * * * *
One thing I am grateful for here in Las Vegas is a friendship with a co-worker who started here six weeks after I did. We're both in the Test Engineering Department and like me, his wife is in another state, Florida. He lived in Titusville for 34 years, of all places. We've gone on a lot of lunchtime walks and we meet Downtown for a beer, which we did yesterday.
That one table that was set up to raise funds for child sex trafficking has been long gone, (they weren't there the following Saturday when I checked), so either they've succeeded in ending this trafficking or they've skipped town.
* * * * * * *
I was Downtown last Saturday, not knowing or intending that I'd be Downtown again the following Saturday, which was yesterday. While conversing with the cashier cage personnel at that Plaza Hotel-Casino eight days ago, I noticed several trays of Eisenhower dollars ("Ikes") and I thought OK, someone must have cashed in their hoard.
Ron and I went in there yesterday, to check out John Gotti's Jaguar which is on display not too far from the cashier cage. We drifted over to the slot machines that were nearby, and Ron played a few hands of video poker. He cashed out and got a collection of shiny new nickels. Most Vegas slots are TITO, ticket in ticket out, though coin slots can be found if you know where to go (La Bayou Casino has several of them).
Before walking away, I noticed a dollar video poker machine that had a coin slot (as well as a dollar bill reader). I also noticed a stack of coin buckets to carry your winnings (or more accurately, what you have left). I got to thinking about those Ike dollars that I saw last week, so I said to Ron, "I need to check out something".
I fed a dollar bill into the machine, cashed out, and a shiny new Ike dollar fell into the coin tray. Well, it was certainly shiny, but not new, since it was dated 1972, but I got a kick out of getting that. I've got 100 or so of these things in my safe back in Tucson, but it's fun to have one here to look at. Ron also got himself one in the same way.
Five years ago, I would order Ikes at a Wells Fargo branch, and sell most of them to a friend of mine in Tucson who's the manager of a Quik Trip. He was always asking me for two dollar bills and Ikes, so that he could hand them out to his customers.....most of whom would get a kick out of getting some novelty money back in change. More were sold to a long time friend of mine who runs a business at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet.
Unfortunately, Wells Fargo down there hasn't been able to get them for me for some time, and I haven't tried to get any at the banks here. I have thought about it, because these coins did circulate in Nevada during their day.
I'm tempted to get $20 or $40 worth of Ikes on my next visit to the Plaza and to spend them.
Using "unusual" money is fun.
* * * * * * *
A few rare words about my job.
I have now been with this employer for a year. It's been something of a ride. I was hired into Systems Engineering, transferred into Test Engineering, working closely with some very brilliant people in a group I'll call "Life Sciences", and the company is willing to let me spend a few weeks coming up to speed on a software package called Solid Works.
I am an electrical engineer by degree, a test engineer by practice, and I now get to learn Solid Works, which is really in the realm of mechanical engineering. The first tutorial was something of a bear, and the succeeding tutorials are either better written, or I'm getting the hang of things.
This is something that my previous employer would not have allowed me to do. I was forced to do software systems engineering, which really wasn't my forte, though that work was "righteous" (I'm stealing a term from a former supervisor here). That employer and the one before it didn't really allow me to practice electrical engineering which is what I studied, but I'm not complaining. I did get to work on satellites and circuit card assemblies, and I've long considered that to be satisfying work.
I struggle sometimes with the why I had to come to Nevada while my wife is in Arizona question. I struggled with that this weekend.
The only answer that I can come up with, is that the Good Lord wants me here for reasons that have not been passed along to me, and they may never be passed along to me.
I have to say this.........the work that I'm doing is the greatest that I've ever done in my life.
And.......I'm living in a most unusual state.........legalized gambling.........24/7 availability of liquor......and an opportunity to people watch Downtown.
I frequently tell myself that I need to make the most of this opportunity, and to write about what I see when I venture into the casinos or walk along Fremont Street.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Coming Out of Spiritual Exile
About six or maybe seven weeks ago I made the decision to start attending church here. It was something that I had been telling myself that I should do. I had only been to one service since the one I was married at, and I was thinking then that it was just time to go online, locate a church, and drive to it one Sunday morning.
A review of the churches in the church body of which I am a member showed four or five sister congregations out here to choose from. One is down in Henderson and two were on my side of Las Vegas. I chose the one down in Summerlin, and came out of spiritual exile.
The rest of the day I was feeling really good about things for quite some time. I have been going back since on most weekends when I am here in town. I missed last Sunday due to a bug that I had the day before, but I made it today.
I really wish Sheila could have been there with me on those Sundays I've made it. I know she would like this church, but the one we have back in Tucson is also right up there and I still regard that as my church.......even if I have to attend a different one while I'm exiled here in Nevada away from my home.
This morning was really great. I met a couple that I knew at my then church in San Jose. I hadn't seen them in nearly 30 years. They have retired to Las Vegas, but make occasional visits to San Jose. Sheila and I will be in San Jose for a vacation before too long, and who knows, we may run into them again.
In some ways I identify with the Hebrew nation as described in the Old Testament. They left Egypt, and went to go wandering in the desert for 40 years. When that time was up, they left the desert to enter a land flowing with milk and honey. Then after a collection of centuries, they were carried off into Babylonian captivity, and then returned after 70 years.
The story of the Exodus has fascinated me for a very long time, and I've had something of my own personal Exodus. In my case I left a land flowing with milk and honey to enter a desert, but Arizona was something of a promised land to me. I love Arizona and I miss being there.
However, I probably ought to be reading up again on their Babylonian captivity. I feel sometimes like I am in my own counterpart to it here, having to be in Nevada so that I can stay in the workforce; not knowing how long this will last or if I will ever make it back to Tucson.
My employer is thinking of opening up another plantsite in Phoenix, and I've already put in for a transfer there, should they want Vegas people to go down. My new boss said that I could go, but that he'd need me up here for two or three days a week. I'm fine with that, as that if I'm working in Phoenix I could see Sheila every weekend.
I've known Sheila for over two years now and she is still continuing to amaze me. I go Downtown every second or third week here to get out of the house, and although the people-watching is even better there than what you can see at an airport, it would be better if she were there with me.
As I've stated, I don't know how long my time here will last. There may be a rationale for staying here, and moving out of Tucson. I'm not sure that I like Las Vegas all that much, but Summerlin is nice and that's where my new church is. I've heard lots of good things about Henderson, but that's too far away from my job for my liking. I have made a couple of visits there, and really need to go there a few more times to get a better feel for it.
I would have no issue retiring in Nevada, in and of itself.
I just don't think I want to retire in Las Vegas.
A review of the churches in the church body of which I am a member showed four or five sister congregations out here to choose from. One is down in Henderson and two were on my side of Las Vegas. I chose the one down in Summerlin, and came out of spiritual exile.
The rest of the day I was feeling really good about things for quite some time. I have been going back since on most weekends when I am here in town. I missed last Sunday due to a bug that I had the day before, but I made it today.
I really wish Sheila could have been there with me on those Sundays I've made it. I know she would like this church, but the one we have back in Tucson is also right up there and I still regard that as my church.......even if I have to attend a different one while I'm exiled here in Nevada away from my home.
This morning was really great. I met a couple that I knew at my then church in San Jose. I hadn't seen them in nearly 30 years. They have retired to Las Vegas, but make occasional visits to San Jose. Sheila and I will be in San Jose for a vacation before too long, and who knows, we may run into them again.
* * * * * * *
In some ways I identify with the Hebrew nation as described in the Old Testament. They left Egypt, and went to go wandering in the desert for 40 years. When that time was up, they left the desert to enter a land flowing with milk and honey. Then after a collection of centuries, they were carried off into Babylonian captivity, and then returned after 70 years.
The story of the Exodus has fascinated me for a very long time, and I've had something of my own personal Exodus. In my case I left a land flowing with milk and honey to enter a desert, but Arizona was something of a promised land to me. I love Arizona and I miss being there.
However, I probably ought to be reading up again on their Babylonian captivity. I feel sometimes like I am in my own counterpart to it here, having to be in Nevada so that I can stay in the workforce; not knowing how long this will last or if I will ever make it back to Tucson.
My employer is thinking of opening up another plantsite in Phoenix, and I've already put in for a transfer there, should they want Vegas people to go down. My new boss said that I could go, but that he'd need me up here for two or three days a week. I'm fine with that, as that if I'm working in Phoenix I could see Sheila every weekend.
* * * * * * *
I've known Sheila for over two years now and she is still continuing to amaze me. I go Downtown every second or third week here to get out of the house, and although the people-watching is even better there than what you can see at an airport, it would be better if she were there with me.
* * * * * * *
As I've stated, I don't know how long my time here will last. There may be a rationale for staying here, and moving out of Tucson. I'm not sure that I like Las Vegas all that much, but Summerlin is nice and that's where my new church is. I've heard lots of good things about Henderson, but that's too far away from my job for my liking. I have made a couple of visits there, and really need to go there a few more times to get a better feel for it.
I would have no issue retiring in Nevada, in and of itself.
I just don't think I want to retire in Las Vegas.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Married Life is Great!
I don't have too much to report, aside from the fact that I am still pleased as punch that Sheila is now my wife. I hate being away from her like this and it's going to be this way for a while. I am returning to Tucson next weekend and again in March, and I think that in April she'll be coming up here.
I have to admit that I am a lot happier now than I was a couple of months ago. There are some things about Las Vegas that I do not like (the Strip is one of them; that place should be bulldozed), but I am finding some things about this place that I do like. We have a Chinatown on Spring Mountain Blvd that I need to spend some time checking out, and I'm hoping that I can talk a co-worker or two into meeting there for lunch some Saturday or Sunday.
Work itself is challenging, as it should be. Planning for the next generation of private spaceflight is under way, and I'm excited at being able to help develop spacecraft design. We have lots of good ideas as to how to make things work and I'm hoping to play a major role in identifying and helping to develop the test equipment that we will need.
I do look forward when I can get some time off, and have that honeymoon with Sheila. Nope, we haven't figured that out yet, but we've got some good ideas.
I have to admit that I am a lot happier now than I was a couple of months ago. There are some things about Las Vegas that I do not like (the Strip is one of them; that place should be bulldozed), but I am finding some things about this place that I do like. We have a Chinatown on Spring Mountain Blvd that I need to spend some time checking out, and I'm hoping that I can talk a co-worker or two into meeting there for lunch some Saturday or Sunday.
Work itself is challenging, as it should be. Planning for the next generation of private spaceflight is under way, and I'm excited at being able to help develop spacecraft design. We have lots of good ideas as to how to make things work and I'm hoping to play a major role in identifying and helping to develop the test equipment that we will need.
I do look forward when I can get some time off, and have that honeymoon with Sheila. Nope, we haven't figured that out yet, but we've got some good ideas.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Married!
Sheila and I were married yesterday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ.
Best man was my longtime friend Mark, who made a special drive with his wife to be there.
Maidens of honor were Kira, Sheila's oldest daughter, and her best friend Barb.
It was great having Sheila next to me all night long last night. We are both tired.
I have since flown back to Las Vegas, this time swimming in a sea of pleasant thought, having a ring on my finger for the first time in 16 years.
The honeymoon will be later on this summer when both of us can get some time off. We haven't decided where, but I'd bet on a road trip. We might go to Santa Fe and take as much as we can of historic 66 from there all the way to Kingman. I've also identified a few possible romantic getaways elsewhere.
I look forward to spending the rest of my life with her!
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Best man was my longtime friend Mark, who made a special drive with his wife to be there.
Maidens of honor were Kira, Sheila's oldest daughter, and her best friend Barb.
It was great having Sheila next to me all night long last night. We are both tired.
I have since flown back to Las Vegas, this time swimming in a sea of pleasant thought, having a ring on my finger for the first time in 16 years.
The honeymoon will be later on this summer when both of us can get some time off. We haven't decided where, but I'd bet on a road trip. We might go to Santa Fe and take as much as we can of historic 66 from there all the way to Kingman. I've also identified a few possible romantic getaways elsewhere.
I look forward to spending the rest of my life with her!
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Christmas in Tucson
Well my new employer decided to give everyone a paid vacation this year for Christmas. It does not count against vacation balances. He (the company founder/president/owner) wanted all of us out of there effective 5:00 PM 12/23 and doesn't want us back until Monday morning, the 5th of January. It's the first year he's done this and as far as I know most of my co-workers have left town like I did.
I drove down here on the 24th, and traffic was pretty much kind to me until I got to Phoenix. It was a backed-up mess in the opposite direction and thick in my direction, though we were held up by a multicar accident at the Warner exit. Maybe Santa Claus will be giving some parties an insurance settlement and other parties a lawsuit. Aside from that it was a good ride.
I'm kicking back here for most of these days, though I figure on working on the house some. I wasn't motivated to do that yesterday. I was instead more interested in admiring the lady who will become my wife next month.
Speaking of which, we're getting the marriage license this afternoon as soon as she gets off work. After that I should book my tickets from Vegas to here, and hopefully Southwest will give me a good fare as a wedding present. The date's been set; we're getting married in a small private ceremony on 1/24.
As for what I've seen in Las Vegas.......I should devote some posts to what that place is like. In a few ways I enjoy being there but in other ways I don't. I can't complain about the entertainment or the dining. I can complain about other things, but I don't feel much like complaining today.
On another front, Franz called me yesterday. We hadn't talked in some time so there was some catching up. His employer was sold to a group of investors, and the new management is having sweeping layoffs even though the balance sheet and backlog of contracts hasn't been this good in a long time. He thought he was going to get it in the last round but there's another one coming and he'll find out if he has that target painted on his back. I can get him in to where I am now working. He's been a satellite engineer longer than I was one, and would be a great fit. If he comes to Vegas then maybe we could split rent on a house or an apartment.
That's going to be it for now.
Merry Christmas!
I drove down here on the 24th, and traffic was pretty much kind to me until I got to Phoenix. It was a backed-up mess in the opposite direction and thick in my direction, though we were held up by a multicar accident at the Warner exit. Maybe Santa Claus will be giving some parties an insurance settlement and other parties a lawsuit. Aside from that it was a good ride.
I'm kicking back here for most of these days, though I figure on working on the house some. I wasn't motivated to do that yesterday. I was instead more interested in admiring the lady who will become my wife next month.
Speaking of which, we're getting the marriage license this afternoon as soon as she gets off work. After that I should book my tickets from Vegas to here, and hopefully Southwest will give me a good fare as a wedding present. The date's been set; we're getting married in a small private ceremony on 1/24.
As for what I've seen in Las Vegas.......I should devote some posts to what that place is like. In a few ways I enjoy being there but in other ways I don't. I can't complain about the entertainment or the dining. I can complain about other things, but I don't feel much like complaining today.
On another front, Franz called me yesterday. We hadn't talked in some time so there was some catching up. His employer was sold to a group of investors, and the new management is having sweeping layoffs even though the balance sheet and backlog of contracts hasn't been this good in a long time. He thought he was going to get it in the last round but there's another one coming and he'll find out if he has that target painted on his back. I can get him in to where I am now working. He's been a satellite engineer longer than I was one, and would be a great fit. If he comes to Vegas then maybe we could split rent on a house or an apartment.
That's going to be it for now.
Merry Christmas!
Friday, June 27, 2014
I'm Retired.....for the Time Being........
Yesterday my employer of 15+ years had another round of layoffs, I think the sixth or seventh since they started doing this last year. It was my turn this time. After 15+ years of service, and at the age of 55+, I was handed my severance package yesterday morning. This brings to the end one chapter of life that was started in March 1999 and it ushers in another.
To be honest, I saw this coming. I can now make public that throughout the course of this year, in my nearly-monthly meetings with my financial planner, I have been examining various retirement scenarios. It was sorely tempting to pull that trigger two months ago, but if I had I would have forfeited a severance package that would have come my way thru the inevitable layoff. They're downsizing, and the best guestimate that I have is that the workforce in Tucson with this employer will be, within two years, just barely half of what it once was some four years ago when the downturn in this industry started.
One thing my mother told me a month or so ago is that retirement isn't what you think it is. She's very right in that. I was beginning to hate going in to work. I didn't hate the job per se.....I love engineering and I have no regrets about choosing the profession in the first place. But when you see several rounds of layoffs and rumors of more to come, the workforce becomes demoralized. You start thinking about retirement. You wonder if it's time for the changes.
The changes of course, have been forced upon me, as I have seen them forced upon some others. Yes, I saw this coming, but I'll have to admit that maybe I'm not really ready for retirement. Maybe not just yet.
As I am typing this, I have been in touch with various recruiters. One week ago today I was called out of the blue by a Florida-based firm that is recruiting for contract positions. There is a rather lucrative opportunity in Phoenix that they want me to apply for, and I have already given them the green light on this. It's contract-to-hire.....it lasts for five or six months, and if they like me then I'll get a permanent offer. Sheila will have to run the household while I am up there, and I think she'll want to have the knot tied before I go. I don't know if this opportunity is a longshot or in the bag but you don't get these if you pass on them.
I think what I really needed was a sabbatical, and one right now seems assured. I took last week off for a vacation, not knowing that a forced one was imminent. I was hoping to hold off on this for a few more years, then go on my sabbatical, and decide later on if I was going to come out of retirement and be an engineer again or do something different like a part time job somewhere bagging groceries or stocking shelves.
Regardless, I am in a state of transition right now. I know some others who were forced down this road and there will most assuredly be more who follow. Some hard decisions will have to be made. Sheila would like to leave Tucson, and although I have found myself loving to live here these past 15+ years, it probably is time to consider a new town. I have several friends up in Phoenix and I have relatives on both sides in the Midwest. I would much rather remain in Arizona, but it may be desirable to move further north some and put some more mileage between here and the border when you consider what's been going on lately. I guess what I would really like to do is go into contracting, and work nine months out of the year and have three months off....working in other cities but coming home to Tucson between contracts. And then when I get tired of that, retire for good.
Anyhow....today was my first day of my "retirement", as I prefer to call it. I met with the financial planner again this morning (this was planned some time ago) and I don't need to be robbing my retirement savings just yet. Ten years ago I made it my mission to get one year's worth of house payments in the bank, and then I started working on getting my second year's worth in there as well. There's also additional funds I have access to that I am not counting towards that, which I may not have to tap at all seeing as how I have a very healthy 401k balance.
As for how I'm coping, I have a volunteer counselor from my church coming over tomorrow morning to visit with me. I have been a volunteer counselor for the past 2+ years and I guess I now am on the other end of that. This kind of transition, although doable, may not be easy on some days. I can tell you that today I have been both elated and depressed. Elated that I am free of the business conditions I've seen as of late, but depressed because I am, at the moment, not a practicing engineer. I know that I can't be an engineer forever and didn't want to for the rest of my life. I envisioned a retirement where there would be plenty of hiking, hunting and fishing......Arizona's good for all three, but for right now it's too hot to do any of these.
Meantime, I will be looking for contract engineering work in the weeks to come, but if a good permanent position comes along I would certainly entertain a return to that kind of work. I also should get caught up on some things in the house and to get it ready for my upcoming marriage, the date of which has not been set. For all we know we may just go downtown to the courthouse and get it over with.
I have to say that Sheila has really been a wonderful support for me. In the past I have unfortunately gotten used to womenfolk abandoning me whenever the going got tough. I've known for some time that Sheila is most definitely a keeper, and I don't need this kind of circumstance to have that proven to me. As I'm writing this, I guess what I really want in retirement is several years with her.
So......a new chapter in life is now here. It's a great unknown. It's both scary and exciting at the same time.
Forward I go.
To be honest, I saw this coming. I can now make public that throughout the course of this year, in my nearly-monthly meetings with my financial planner, I have been examining various retirement scenarios. It was sorely tempting to pull that trigger two months ago, but if I had I would have forfeited a severance package that would have come my way thru the inevitable layoff. They're downsizing, and the best guestimate that I have is that the workforce in Tucson with this employer will be, within two years, just barely half of what it once was some four years ago when the downturn in this industry started.
One thing my mother told me a month or so ago is that retirement isn't what you think it is. She's very right in that. I was beginning to hate going in to work. I didn't hate the job per se.....I love engineering and I have no regrets about choosing the profession in the first place. But when you see several rounds of layoffs and rumors of more to come, the workforce becomes demoralized. You start thinking about retirement. You wonder if it's time for the changes.
The changes of course, have been forced upon me, as I have seen them forced upon some others. Yes, I saw this coming, but I'll have to admit that maybe I'm not really ready for retirement. Maybe not just yet.
As I am typing this, I have been in touch with various recruiters. One week ago today I was called out of the blue by a Florida-based firm that is recruiting for contract positions. There is a rather lucrative opportunity in Phoenix that they want me to apply for, and I have already given them the green light on this. It's contract-to-hire.....it lasts for five or six months, and if they like me then I'll get a permanent offer. Sheila will have to run the household while I am up there, and I think she'll want to have the knot tied before I go. I don't know if this opportunity is a longshot or in the bag but you don't get these if you pass on them.
I think what I really needed was a sabbatical, and one right now seems assured. I took last week off for a vacation, not knowing that a forced one was imminent. I was hoping to hold off on this for a few more years, then go on my sabbatical, and decide later on if I was going to come out of retirement and be an engineer again or do something different like a part time job somewhere bagging groceries or stocking shelves.
Regardless, I am in a state of transition right now. I know some others who were forced down this road and there will most assuredly be more who follow. Some hard decisions will have to be made. Sheila would like to leave Tucson, and although I have found myself loving to live here these past 15+ years, it probably is time to consider a new town. I have several friends up in Phoenix and I have relatives on both sides in the Midwest. I would much rather remain in Arizona, but it may be desirable to move further north some and put some more mileage between here and the border when you consider what's been going on lately. I guess what I would really like to do is go into contracting, and work nine months out of the year and have three months off....working in other cities but coming home to Tucson between contracts. And then when I get tired of that, retire for good.
Anyhow....today was my first day of my "retirement", as I prefer to call it. I met with the financial planner again this morning (this was planned some time ago) and I don't need to be robbing my retirement savings just yet. Ten years ago I made it my mission to get one year's worth of house payments in the bank, and then I started working on getting my second year's worth in there as well. There's also additional funds I have access to that I am not counting towards that, which I may not have to tap at all seeing as how I have a very healthy 401k balance.
As for how I'm coping, I have a volunteer counselor from my church coming over tomorrow morning to visit with me. I have been a volunteer counselor for the past 2+ years and I guess I now am on the other end of that. This kind of transition, although doable, may not be easy on some days. I can tell you that today I have been both elated and depressed. Elated that I am free of the business conditions I've seen as of late, but depressed because I am, at the moment, not a practicing engineer. I know that I can't be an engineer forever and didn't want to for the rest of my life. I envisioned a retirement where there would be plenty of hiking, hunting and fishing......Arizona's good for all three, but for right now it's too hot to do any of these.
Meantime, I will be looking for contract engineering work in the weeks to come, but if a good permanent position comes along I would certainly entertain a return to that kind of work. I also should get caught up on some things in the house and to get it ready for my upcoming marriage, the date of which has not been set. For all we know we may just go downtown to the courthouse and get it over with.
I have to say that Sheila has really been a wonderful support for me. In the past I have unfortunately gotten used to womenfolk abandoning me whenever the going got tough. I've known for some time that Sheila is most definitely a keeper, and I don't need this kind of circumstance to have that proven to me. As I'm writing this, I guess what I really want in retirement is several years with her.
So......a new chapter in life is now here. It's a great unknown. It's both scary and exciting at the same time.
Forward I go.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Monday, 6/9/14
When I arrived at work this morning there was an email from my supervisor. I'm being placed in charge of a huge technical data package, this time having responsibility for schedule and budget. It's a huge one; it will take some six months to execute. I view it as a resume enhancer and I'm glad that this one landed in my lap!
I am also continuing support of the computer re-design effort, which is also a resume enhancer. I split time between the two. This places me in the position of having to serve two masters at once, and in the past that's not been a good position to be in.
However, the universe these days is not operating normally. One of the deputy chief engineers came up with a quote last year that's still on my white board: "Bizarre is normal".
I know one of the two masters is pleased and my mission now is to please the other.
I think I'll somehow manage to pull it off.
Sheila is now proudly displaying her engagement ring. In all the time I've known her, I've never seen her this happy! People keep asking us if we've set a date yet, and we haven't.....I mean, one thing at time. I still need to get her a wedding band and we need to get a ring for me.
There has been a lot of controversy over the so-called Bergdahl Release. I'm using the phrase "so-called" because I'm not sure at this point in time if the Obama administration paid a cash bribe, excuse me, ransom, to the Taliban. What we do know at this point in time is that we don't know everything there is to know about this.
When this first broke, there were comments on the Yahoo articles that Bergdahl was a deserter. I wasn't sure what to make out of all of this as that the initial news reports said he was being released after five years of "captivity". It now seems as if these initial commenters are on to something, and we have a lot of veterans upset over how this all came about.
I'm not happy about this myself, as that the Taliban got the five guys that they most wanted. I also see this as an opportunity that Obama had to weaken the country even further, and there was no way that he was going to let that go.
I feel the need to remind what audience I have here about something.
The Republican Establishment, in the early 2009 timeframe, went on record to state that they wished to see Obama "succeed". Every Republican in a leadership position in the RNC or in Congress said that. "We want Obama to succeed!". Not one of them has ever repudiated that. Not John McCain. Not Lindsey Graham. Not Reince Preibus.
Bottom line: if you're hoping for articles of impeachment, forget it. There's no way that will happen. No way.
Remember: the Republicans want Obama to succeed.
You have to wonder why the Taliban is working to destroy the United States, while we have a Republican (and Democrat!) Establishment that is working to accomplish the same thing.....though albeit from within.
If I sound like I am thoroughly disgusted with both parties, it's because I am.
I guess I could join the Libertarians, but I don't think they want me either.
Weather in Tucson has been hot, as can be expected this time of year, but I don't remember previous Junes being as hot as this one. We had a mild winter and if we have a harsh summer then I wouldn't be surprised.
It does make me think we might be in for a colder winter than usual, as that we don't ever seem to find the middle ground here when it comes to weather.
That's it. I'm out of here for now.
Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat!
I am also continuing support of the computer re-design effort, which is also a resume enhancer. I split time between the two. This places me in the position of having to serve two masters at once, and in the past that's not been a good position to be in.
However, the universe these days is not operating normally. One of the deputy chief engineers came up with a quote last year that's still on my white board: "Bizarre is normal".
I know one of the two masters is pleased and my mission now is to please the other.
I think I'll somehow manage to pull it off.
* * * * * * *
Sheila is now proudly displaying her engagement ring. In all the time I've known her, I've never seen her this happy! People keep asking us if we've set a date yet, and we haven't.....I mean, one thing at time. I still need to get her a wedding band and we need to get a ring for me.
* * * * * * *
There has been a lot of controversy over the so-called Bergdahl Release. I'm using the phrase "so-called" because I'm not sure at this point in time if the Obama administration paid a cash bribe, excuse me, ransom, to the Taliban. What we do know at this point in time is that we don't know everything there is to know about this.
When this first broke, there were comments on the Yahoo articles that Bergdahl was a deserter. I wasn't sure what to make out of all of this as that the initial news reports said he was being released after five years of "captivity". It now seems as if these initial commenters are on to something, and we have a lot of veterans upset over how this all came about.
I'm not happy about this myself, as that the Taliban got the five guys that they most wanted. I also see this as an opportunity that Obama had to weaken the country even further, and there was no way that he was going to let that go.
I feel the need to remind what audience I have here about something.
The Republican Establishment, in the early 2009 timeframe, went on record to state that they wished to see Obama "succeed". Every Republican in a leadership position in the RNC or in Congress said that. "We want Obama to succeed!". Not one of them has ever repudiated that. Not John McCain. Not Lindsey Graham. Not Reince Preibus.
Bottom line: if you're hoping for articles of impeachment, forget it. There's no way that will happen. No way.
Remember: the Republicans want Obama to succeed.
You have to wonder why the Taliban is working to destroy the United States, while we have a Republican (and Democrat!) Establishment that is working to accomplish the same thing.....though albeit from within.
* * * * * * *
If I sound like I am thoroughly disgusted with both parties, it's because I am.
I guess I could join the Libertarians, but I don't think they want me either.
* * * * * * *
Weather in Tucson has been hot, as can be expected this time of year, but I don't remember previous Junes being as hot as this one. We had a mild winter and if we have a harsh summer then I wouldn't be surprised.
It does make me think we might be in for a colder winter than usual, as that we don't ever seem to find the middle ground here when it comes to weather.
* * * * * * *
That's it. I'm out of here for now.
Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat!
Sunday, May 18, 2014
The Odds and Ends as They Stand on 5/18/14
I've gotten some emails from some folks who want to know when the wedding is, or what our plans are.
All I can tell you is this: we haven't really made any. One possibility is eloping to Las Vegas and spending a few days there for a honeymoon, but we are leaning against that. The other possibility, more likely, is a small private ceremony at my church. Pastor has floated that as on option and I think that's where we're going to go.
Sheila doesn't want a big church wedding, and my first wedding was of that nature since that was more for my parents and friends than for anyone else, so I don't want on either. This time, I figure on maybe twenty witnesses at the most. Close friends, family, and that's it.
I'm guessing that my wedding night will be spent at my house, and then the next day we'll be on some highway somewhere. We're thinking of Route 66, but we may drive up to Santa Fe first. Or, maybe we'll do Vegas, then pick up 66 in Kingman and take that over to Flag (that's what we Zonies call Flagstaff). (Zonies: people who live in Arizona).
Wedding plans have been somewhat hampered by waiting for my work situation to stabilize some. It's taken some bizarre twists and turns over the past few weeks and it is threatening to get better. I have returned to my old project, and I'm pleased as punch to be back; supporting a computer re-design. I'm also helping out with some change packages. That's all I will say at this time.
I need to post about some of my favorite eating places here in Tucson. I have several; I could do them all in one fell swoop but I think I will instead post reviews here and there.
Yeah, I know, I need to post more on that "money series" I started, but I'm going through the house and re-arranging things. Sheila and her kids will be living here. What I have in mind for that will take some research, and what I ought to do is to start writing the essays in a Word document, and then when finished, post them here.
I've been doing a fair amount of reading lately. I was introduced to Louis L'Amour a few months back and a friend of mine has been loaning me some paperbacks and I've been reading them. What I've read so far has been of the Sackett series, coming to know the character of William Tell Sackett, and more recently, his cousin Logan Sackett.
I'm not one to watch westerns, nor have I ever read any until now, but I find myself enjoying them.
I may have missed out on something for far too long, until now.
It will make you into a better person. And, it's good for the dog or cat too.
All I can tell you is this: we haven't really made any. One possibility is eloping to Las Vegas and spending a few days there for a honeymoon, but we are leaning against that. The other possibility, more likely, is a small private ceremony at my church. Pastor has floated that as on option and I think that's where we're going to go.
Sheila doesn't want a big church wedding, and my first wedding was of that nature since that was more for my parents and friends than for anyone else, so I don't want on either. This time, I figure on maybe twenty witnesses at the most. Close friends, family, and that's it.
I'm guessing that my wedding night will be spent at my house, and then the next day we'll be on some highway somewhere. We're thinking of Route 66, but we may drive up to Santa Fe first. Or, maybe we'll do Vegas, then pick up 66 in Kingman and take that over to Flag (that's what we Zonies call Flagstaff). (Zonies: people who live in Arizona).
* * * * * * *
Wedding plans have been somewhat hampered by waiting for my work situation to stabilize some. It's taken some bizarre twists and turns over the past few weeks and it is threatening to get better. I have returned to my old project, and I'm pleased as punch to be back; supporting a computer re-design. I'm also helping out with some change packages. That's all I will say at this time.
* * * * * * *
I need to post about some of my favorite eating places here in Tucson. I have several; I could do them all in one fell swoop but I think I will instead post reviews here and there.
Yeah, I know, I need to post more on that "money series" I started, but I'm going through the house and re-arranging things. Sheila and her kids will be living here. What I have in mind for that will take some research, and what I ought to do is to start writing the essays in a Word document, and then when finished, post them here.
* * * * * * *
I've been doing a fair amount of reading lately. I was introduced to Louis L'Amour a few months back and a friend of mine has been loaning me some paperbacks and I've been reading them. What I've read so far has been of the Sackett series, coming to know the character of William Tell Sackett, and more recently, his cousin Logan Sackett.
I'm not one to watch westerns, nor have I ever read any until now, but I find myself enjoying them.
I may have missed out on something for far too long, until now.
* * * * * * *
Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat. It will make you into a better person. And, it's good for the dog or cat too.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Sheila and I are Engaged!
At this point in time, the whole world can now know.
Sheila and I are engaged to be married. I proposed marriage on the evening of 4/25/14. She had just arrived, and we went out to my back patio to talk (we've spent a lot of evenings there enjoying the Arizona weather lately).
I made the decision to propose marriage at 8:45 in the morning of 3/27/14. I had been praying about it, and while walking over to another building for a meeting which I was chairing, I decided that it was time.
I spent a couple of weeks deciding how to do this. Do I take her to a special dinner? That might tip her off. I wanted it to be a surprise. Do I wait until a normal day? With the way things are with me, good luck with that. Last Friday, as documented in my previous entry, presented its own fair share of problems. And, I've got another one or two of them to work out as I type this.
Anyway.....our original plans were to drive down to Tombstone last Saturday. Then I checked the weather forecast....it wasn't good. High wind gusts were forecast all day long, and there was even rain the forecast. Rain in April here is unusual, but a day of wind gusts is not. Usually we get a full day of wind gusts whenever I have an off Friday, but since it wasn't an off Friday it had to instead happen on that Saturday. The same day I wanted to propose.
So......the weather forecast made me propose one day early. I knew that Friday morning I wanted to do it, but I needed a day without complication. Well, I didn't get a day without complication. My camper shell glass mishap was one of those bizarre anomalies right out of left field. So I have a replacement on order. Fine.
Then there was that damned malware attack, which may not have been McAfee's fault. In the headlines today was one of them that Microsoft has a serious security flaw in all versions of Exploder....excuse me.....Explorer. As much as I would like to blame McAfee for it, I might be wrong in doing so.
Well.....that one was overcome.....even if I had to talk to a call center in India. (I'm going to give those guys kudos on this one....they fixed the problem!). At this point, I'm thinking, there's nothing else left go wrong this day. The H E double hockey sticks with it. I'm going to propose! But I had to wait for her to come over, and when I saw her car pull into the driveway from my upstairs window, I knew that the moment had arrived.
We were then on the back patio. I said, "can you come over here for a second?"
She did.
"Can you set that down right there?", referring to the cold drink she had in her hand.
She did.
Then I dropped to one knee and took her hand in mine.
"Sheila Dxxxxxx, will you marry me? Will you become my wife?"
As I expected, Sheila said yes. That was the best answer anyone's given me on a question for several years. I then opened up a bottle of wine from Chile that I had been saving for a special occasion, a wine that Cost Plus discontinued since too many people liked it.
So.......fifteen years of being single again are ending. A wedding is in our future.
We don't yet know when this will happen. I'd like to think it will be later this year. I don't know. I have to get my house ready for her and her kids, and, I think all of us, even though we knew this was coming, just might want to let the idea of marriage and family ferment in the recesses of the mind for a little while.
All I can tell you, is that we want to do a road trip for the honeymoon, and we're thinking that Route 66 might be it. Or.....it might be Santa Fe, Las Vegas, the ghost towns of Nevada......who knows.
The important thing is that this is going to happen.
We ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Sheila and I are engaged to be married. I proposed marriage on the evening of 4/25/14. She had just arrived, and we went out to my back patio to talk (we've spent a lot of evenings there enjoying the Arizona weather lately).
I made the decision to propose marriage at 8:45 in the morning of 3/27/14. I had been praying about it, and while walking over to another building for a meeting which I was chairing, I decided that it was time.
I spent a couple of weeks deciding how to do this. Do I take her to a special dinner? That might tip her off. I wanted it to be a surprise. Do I wait until a normal day? With the way things are with me, good luck with that. Last Friday, as documented in my previous entry, presented its own fair share of problems. And, I've got another one or two of them to work out as I type this.
Anyway.....our original plans were to drive down to Tombstone last Saturday. Then I checked the weather forecast....it wasn't good. High wind gusts were forecast all day long, and there was even rain the forecast. Rain in April here is unusual, but a day of wind gusts is not. Usually we get a full day of wind gusts whenever I have an off Friday, but since it wasn't an off Friday it had to instead happen on that Saturday. The same day I wanted to propose.
So......the weather forecast made me propose one day early. I knew that Friday morning I wanted to do it, but I needed a day without complication. Well, I didn't get a day without complication. My camper shell glass mishap was one of those bizarre anomalies right out of left field. So I have a replacement on order. Fine.
Then there was that damned malware attack, which may not have been McAfee's fault. In the headlines today was one of them that Microsoft has a serious security flaw in all versions of Exploder....excuse me.....Explorer. As much as I would like to blame McAfee for it, I might be wrong in doing so.
Well.....that one was overcome.....even if I had to talk to a call center in India. (I'm going to give those guys kudos on this one....they fixed the problem!). At this point, I'm thinking, there's nothing else left go wrong this day. The H E double hockey sticks with it. I'm going to propose! But I had to wait for her to come over, and when I saw her car pull into the driveway from my upstairs window, I knew that the moment had arrived.
We were then on the back patio. I said, "can you come over here for a second?"
She did.
"Can you set that down right there?", referring to the cold drink she had in her hand.
She did.
Then I dropped to one knee and took her hand in mine.
"Sheila Dxxxxxx, will you marry me? Will you become my wife?"
As I expected, Sheila said yes. That was the best answer anyone's given me on a question for several years. I then opened up a bottle of wine from Chile that I had been saving for a special occasion, a wine that Cost Plus discontinued since too many people liked it.
So.......fifteen years of being single again are ending. A wedding is in our future.
We don't yet know when this will happen. I'd like to think it will be later this year. I don't know. I have to get my house ready for her and her kids, and, I think all of us, even though we knew this was coming, just might want to let the idea of marriage and family ferment in the recesses of the mind for a little while.
All I can tell you, is that we want to do a road trip for the honeymoon, and we're thinking that Route 66 might be it. Or.....it might be Santa Fe, Las Vegas, the ghost towns of Nevada......who knows.
The important thing is that this is going to happen.
We ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
The First Day of Spring, 2014
I haven't posted in quite a while as to what's going on here on the personal front. So what I'm going to do here is catch up on some things. It's been an exhausting day today as part of an exhausting week, but tomorrow is my off Friday and this evening I don't have anything on the calendar.
Yes, I am still seeing Sheila. We're seeing quite a bit of each other. Things are going very well in that regard.
I'm hoping that later on this year we can see more of US 66, the Arizona portion between Kingman and Flagstaff, and during the spring. It's challenging for both of us to get any extended time off. I switched assignments at work effective January 2nd and we're on a very tight schedule.
Two weekends ago Bachman & Turner played in Glendale, at the Jobing.com Arena, the present home of the Phoenix Coyotes. Sheila and I got to meet up with Fred Turner a few hours before the show. I knew before last Christmas that we might be seeing them. Fred told me in an email about there being rumors of an Arizona show, and when it became official I bought some tickets.
We ran into Fred and his wife Donna in that mall area north of the arena. I had related to Sheila the story about how I had run into Fred on Fremont Street in Las Vegas several hours before their scheduled show, and within ten minutes it was happening all over again!
I have been wanting Sheila to meet Fred for some time, and it happened! Sheila was impressed with how down to earth Fred is, and me, even though I've now met him more times than I can remember, I still get giddy with excitement whenever it happens.
As for the show, they were preceded on stage by Trooper and Loverboy; both out of Canada. It was "Canada Fest" and from audience response to questions by the lead singer of Trooper, 40% of the audience was Canadian. He also gave a friendly shout out to us Americans.
Bachman & Turner ended up closing the festival. It was a shorter set than I would have liked, but they were more improvisational than I had ever seen. Randy Bachman extended most of his solos with extra measures......even his "drumstick" solo was a little longer and not quite to script, for lack of a better expression.
There weren't any songs from their 2010 CD, but they did play "Shakin' All Over"......I don't think they've done that one live since 1986. They did not indicate that any new material was coming out, but I can tell you what I know here.
A 40th anniversary of their Not Fragile album is being released later this month. It will be a two CD set and will have some live/rehearsal material. It is also public knowledge that Fred would very much love to do a new album, but logistically it's difficult since he's in Winnipeg (and Tampa during the winter) while the rest are in B.C.. Randy's also got a lot of side projects going on with a radio show on CBC as well his "Every Song Tells a Story"concert series that he does without Fred.
As for the new album, there's some chatter that Randy would love to do a new one, concentrating on blues, and Fred could contribute beyond measure to something like that.....not only as a vocalist (he's got the right vocals for it) but also in songwriting.
I can only hope, as a nearly 40 year fan, that they are taking good care of themselves, and that the Good Lord will bless them with many more years. It's hard to believe that both of them are now 70 and are still rocking. It's likely that 40 years ago neither one of them thought they'd be playing together in 2014.
I got my first 2014 coin in my change this morning, a Lincoln cent. Tucson usually doesn't get the new coins as quickly as other locations. Mine came in change from a purchase at the Quik Trip on Broadway and Camino Seco. Just a few days ago they were handing out shiny 2013 cents.
The guy behind the counter told me that they've been getting brand new rolls from their armored car carrier (Brinks?) so it sounds as if the 2013 supply is near its end.
This may be an early bedtime tonight for me, so I'll sign now.
Weekends are great. Especially the long ones.
* * * * * * *
Yes, I am still seeing Sheila. We're seeing quite a bit of each other. Things are going very well in that regard.
I'm hoping that later on this year we can see more of US 66, the Arizona portion between Kingman and Flagstaff, and during the spring. It's challenging for both of us to get any extended time off. I switched assignments at work effective January 2nd and we're on a very tight schedule.
* * * * * * *
Two weekends ago Bachman & Turner played in Glendale, at the Jobing.com Arena, the present home of the Phoenix Coyotes. Sheila and I got to meet up with Fred Turner a few hours before the show. I knew before last Christmas that we might be seeing them. Fred told me in an email about there being rumors of an Arizona show, and when it became official I bought some tickets.
We ran into Fred and his wife Donna in that mall area north of the arena. I had related to Sheila the story about how I had run into Fred on Fremont Street in Las Vegas several hours before their scheduled show, and within ten minutes it was happening all over again!
I have been wanting Sheila to meet Fred for some time, and it happened! Sheila was impressed with how down to earth Fred is, and me, even though I've now met him more times than I can remember, I still get giddy with excitement whenever it happens.
As for the show, they were preceded on stage by Trooper and Loverboy; both out of Canada. It was "Canada Fest" and from audience response to questions by the lead singer of Trooper, 40% of the audience was Canadian. He also gave a friendly shout out to us Americans.
Bachman & Turner ended up closing the festival. It was a shorter set than I would have liked, but they were more improvisational than I had ever seen. Randy Bachman extended most of his solos with extra measures......even his "drumstick" solo was a little longer and not quite to script, for lack of a better expression.
There weren't any songs from their 2010 CD, but they did play "Shakin' All Over"......I don't think they've done that one live since 1986. They did not indicate that any new material was coming out, but I can tell you what I know here.
A 40th anniversary of their Not Fragile album is being released later this month. It will be a two CD set and will have some live/rehearsal material. It is also public knowledge that Fred would very much love to do a new album, but logistically it's difficult since he's in Winnipeg (and Tampa during the winter) while the rest are in B.C.. Randy's also got a lot of side projects going on with a radio show on CBC as well his "Every Song Tells a Story"concert series that he does without Fred.
As for the new album, there's some chatter that Randy would love to do a new one, concentrating on blues, and Fred could contribute beyond measure to something like that.....not only as a vocalist (he's got the right vocals for it) but also in songwriting.
I can only hope, as a nearly 40 year fan, that they are taking good care of themselves, and that the Good Lord will bless them with many more years. It's hard to believe that both of them are now 70 and are still rocking. It's likely that 40 years ago neither one of them thought they'd be playing together in 2014.
* * * * * * *
I got my first 2014 coin in my change this morning, a Lincoln cent. Tucson usually doesn't get the new coins as quickly as other locations. Mine came in change from a purchase at the Quik Trip on Broadway and Camino Seco. Just a few days ago they were handing out shiny 2013 cents.
The guy behind the counter told me that they've been getting brand new rolls from their armored car carrier (Brinks?) so it sounds as if the 2013 supply is near its end.
* * * * * *
This may be an early bedtime tonight for me, so I'll sign now.
Weekends are great. Especially the long ones.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
To San Jose and Back
Now that the trip is over, I can reveal that Sheila and I were up in San Jose within the past week so that she could meet my parents. The trip was not foreseen at the beginning of the month as that I was involved in a hot project at work and that Sheila didn't think she could get the time off. I decided to take the week after the Fourth off thinking that I would be spending it in Tucson, but Sheila made some inquiries at where she works and she learned that she could get a block of time off.
Since we didn't know when we would have this opportunity again, we took it. We left Tucson on Thursday the 10th and we were up in San Jose the next afternoon. We bypassed both Phoenix and L.A. on the way up, and with a detour at the Tehachapi Loop there were 892 miles on the trip odometer when I pulled into my parents' driveway.
We took three days to drive back as that I had my heart set on taking her down Route 66. Ever since I did that drive in November 2011 I had been wanting to repeat it, and with some company this time. I have to devote a separate post as to what we saw that day, as that there was more than one abandoned gas station between Victorville and Barstow. Also, what I thought was once a truck stop east of Barstow was instead an agricultural inspection station. The Spirit gas station next to I-40 is now a Valero station, and is operational. And there's some new graffiti at the old gas station at Cadiz Summit. I plan on posting some pictures of this trip and the previous one.
As for San Jose, there wasn't much time to play tourist. There were my parents, some longtime friends, and we got to visit Mark's parents with the help of Skype. I didn't get to see everyone that I wanted to see either. That will have to wait until the next time.
I hope we can be back in San Jose for the holidaze, but all indications are that Christmas will be spent here in Tucson.
I do know one thing. I really enjoy being with Sheila, and like me she thought that 66 was the "bomb".
Since we didn't know when we would have this opportunity again, we took it. We left Tucson on Thursday the 10th and we were up in San Jose the next afternoon. We bypassed both Phoenix and L.A. on the way up, and with a detour at the Tehachapi Loop there were 892 miles on the trip odometer when I pulled into my parents' driveway.
We took three days to drive back as that I had my heart set on taking her down Route 66. Ever since I did that drive in November 2011 I had been wanting to repeat it, and with some company this time. I have to devote a separate post as to what we saw that day, as that there was more than one abandoned gas station between Victorville and Barstow. Also, what I thought was once a truck stop east of Barstow was instead an agricultural inspection station. The Spirit gas station next to I-40 is now a Valero station, and is operational. And there's some new graffiti at the old gas station at Cadiz Summit. I plan on posting some pictures of this trip and the previous one.
As for San Jose, there wasn't much time to play tourist. There were my parents, some longtime friends, and we got to visit Mark's parents with the help of Skype. I didn't get to see everyone that I wanted to see either. That will have to wait until the next time.
I hope we can be back in San Jose for the holidaze, but all indications are that Christmas will be spent here in Tucson.
I do know one thing. I really enjoy being with Sheila, and like me she thought that 66 was the "bomb".
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Some catching up to do.........
I know, it's been several weeks since I last posted. I've gotten an email or two about people asking me how I'm doing. There are lots of things going on in life right now that I've been busy doing, and as a result I don't seem to have a whole lot of free time lately. It's all good, or most of it anyway, and I remain alive and well.
Sheila and I have been seeing a lot of each other over the past several weeks. Most weekends we spend the whole day doing something together (today she's at her house getting caught up on some things too). Last weekend we did a lot of walking. Weekends before it was barbecuing, visiting, or going out to eat. Last night we went to a baseball game. Next weekend is the county fair. When she comes over later on, I'm firing up the grill and slow-cooking a flat brisket.
We've been doing a lot of things together, and having lots of fun.
However, I feel the need to catch up here, and to post some random thoughts and observations.
Dennis Rodman was over in North Korea not so long ago. A lot of people, most notably on the talk radio circuit and a few here and there on Fox News have a problem with him.
Me, I don't have a problem with Dennis Rodman going over there. I really don't.
My problem with Dennis Rodman is that he came back.
There seems to be a push in some (if not all) in the "blue" states to tighten gun control laws in the wake of some tragedies. There are even some efforts on the federal level.
I can't point to a single law, passed or proposed, that would have prevented these tragedies. Connecticut will require the registration of high capacity magazines while outlawing the possession of newer high capacity magazines.
First of all, the criminals aren't going to register their magazines. They simply won't. Those in favor of this law must know this, yet they insist on magazine registration.
That tells me that the purpose of this law (and other laws requiring registration of firearms) have only one purpose. That purpose is to let the government know where the legally held firearms are. They don't seem interested in knowing where the criminally held firearms are. Why is that?
A conspiracy theorist will tell you that the purpose of these laws are to set the stage for a future confiscation.
I find that kind of viewpoint difficult to disagree with.
As I've said before, criminals don't register their guns.
While driving around Tuesday night, I tuned in to one of the talk radio shows, and it was Andy Dean interviewing a professor. I unfortunately did not catch this professor's name or which institution of higher learning he was with. The professor criticized Andy Dean for not wanting to "invest" in infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
I don't know about the professor, or about you, but me, when I think of the term "invest" and the act of investing, I'm doing so because I want to get some sort of monetary return on this.
How do I invest in the widening of some interstate highway somewhere? There's no toll being collected on that highway (at least not here in the West) and no dividend that the highway is going to pay me. There might be a publicly owned construction firm that I could buy stock in, but I wouldn't be "investing" in it since I'm not allowed to designate a portion of my tax dollars to purchase stock in that company.
Likewise, there are extremely wealthy owners of sports franchises in Major League baseball or the NFL who demand that the city buy them a new stadium using public funds. The politicians then beg the voters for another tax increase in order to "invest" in that new stadium or arena in order to keep the team.
If the word "investment" is accurate in these instances, then how come the major Wall Street corporations don't form consortia to "invest" in new ballparks and basketball/hockey arenas?
Two reasons. One, they don't have to if they know that gullible voters can be suckerered into increasing the sales tax, and two, the projects won't return money anyway.
Seattle blew up the Kingdome a few years back, and they're still making payments on it.
This brings up another topic. Sheila and Iwere talking about baseball strikes that seem to occur every so often. I remember that one back in 1972, the one in 1981, and especially the one in 1994. There always is some debate over what the cause of the strike is. Some say the baseball players are being greedy, and others say the owners are being greedy. I'll go so far as to say that both sides are greedy, and that one consequence of a bunch of money gathering in one place is that everybody who is near that money will get into a bitter fight over who that pile of money belongs to.
I have another theory as to why there are baseball strikes, hockey lockouts, and other labor disputes in professional sports.
The cause of these strikes are the fans.
When the strike is over, the fans always come back (there were a lot of fans who did not come back after the 1994 baseball strike; and who never will). The fans are willing to pay $10 for parking, $60 for a ticket, $8 for a beer, $4 for a hot dog.......it's the fans who keep coming back, no matter what the price is, that is causing these labor disputes.
If the fans were to form a union and demand lower ticket and concession prices and to go on strike until their demands were met, they might stand a chance of actually winning such a strike.
Yes, we went to a baseball game last night. Parking was free, the great seats were $10, and we got a good honest game out of it. It was the Triple A Tucson Padres, who are in their last year in Tucson, hosting the Fresno Grizzlies. Next year they play in El Paso, and unless the local Golden Baseball League franchise is re-activated we will be without baseball here in the Old Pueblo next year.
Tucson isn't exactly a baseball town. The Sidewinders did not get fan support, and now they're in Reno playing as the Aces. The Tucson Padres came here with their owners expecting Escondido to build them a new ballpark, but that fell through. El Paso then agreed to build a new ballpark for them and it will be ready next year.
I like minor league ball, in that you get an honest game. The players are all itching to move up to the majors, so they're not yet crybabies.
As for major league ball: I won't go.
When the players came back after the 1994 strike, I went on strike as a fan and I'm still on strike. I can't so much tell you the teams who have been in the World Series since then.
Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat.
Sheila and I have been seeing a lot of each other over the past several weeks. Most weekends we spend the whole day doing something together (today she's at her house getting caught up on some things too). Last weekend we did a lot of walking. Weekends before it was barbecuing, visiting, or going out to eat. Last night we went to a baseball game. Next weekend is the county fair. When she comes over later on, I'm firing up the grill and slow-cooking a flat brisket.
We've been doing a lot of things together, and having lots of fun.
However, I feel the need to catch up here, and to post some random thoughts and observations.
* * * * * * *
Dennis Rodman was over in North Korea not so long ago. A lot of people, most notably on the talk radio circuit and a few here and there on Fox News have a problem with him.
Me, I don't have a problem with Dennis Rodman going over there. I really don't.
My problem with Dennis Rodman is that he came back.
* * * * * * *
There seems to be a push in some (if not all) in the "blue" states to tighten gun control laws in the wake of some tragedies. There are even some efforts on the federal level.
I can't point to a single law, passed or proposed, that would have prevented these tragedies. Connecticut will require the registration of high capacity magazines while outlawing the possession of newer high capacity magazines.
First of all, the criminals aren't going to register their magazines. They simply won't. Those in favor of this law must know this, yet they insist on magazine registration.
That tells me that the purpose of this law (and other laws requiring registration of firearms) have only one purpose. That purpose is to let the government know where the legally held firearms are. They don't seem interested in knowing where the criminally held firearms are. Why is that?
A conspiracy theorist will tell you that the purpose of these laws are to set the stage for a future confiscation.
I find that kind of viewpoint difficult to disagree with.
As I've said before, criminals don't register their guns.
* * * * * * *
While driving around Tuesday night, I tuned in to one of the talk radio shows, and it was Andy Dean interviewing a professor. I unfortunately did not catch this professor's name or which institution of higher learning he was with. The professor criticized Andy Dean for not wanting to "invest" in infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
I don't know about the professor, or about you, but me, when I think of the term "invest" and the act of investing, I'm doing so because I want to get some sort of monetary return on this.
How do I invest in the widening of some interstate highway somewhere? There's no toll being collected on that highway (at least not here in the West) and no dividend that the highway is going to pay me. There might be a publicly owned construction firm that I could buy stock in, but I wouldn't be "investing" in it since I'm not allowed to designate a portion of my tax dollars to purchase stock in that company.
Likewise, there are extremely wealthy owners of sports franchises in Major League baseball or the NFL who demand that the city buy them a new stadium using public funds. The politicians then beg the voters for another tax increase in order to "invest" in that new stadium or arena in order to keep the team.
If the word "investment" is accurate in these instances, then how come the major Wall Street corporations don't form consortia to "invest" in new ballparks and basketball/hockey arenas?
Two reasons. One, they don't have to if they know that gullible voters can be suckerered into increasing the sales tax, and two, the projects won't return money anyway.
Seattle blew up the Kingdome a few years back, and they're still making payments on it.
* * * * * * *
This brings up another topic. Sheila and Iwere talking about baseball strikes that seem to occur every so often. I remember that one back in 1972, the one in 1981, and especially the one in 1994. There always is some debate over what the cause of the strike is. Some say the baseball players are being greedy, and others say the owners are being greedy. I'll go so far as to say that both sides are greedy, and that one consequence of a bunch of money gathering in one place is that everybody who is near that money will get into a bitter fight over who that pile of money belongs to.
I have another theory as to why there are baseball strikes, hockey lockouts, and other labor disputes in professional sports.
The cause of these strikes are the fans.
When the strike is over, the fans always come back (there were a lot of fans who did not come back after the 1994 baseball strike; and who never will). The fans are willing to pay $10 for parking, $60 for a ticket, $8 for a beer, $4 for a hot dog.......it's the fans who keep coming back, no matter what the price is, that is causing these labor disputes.
If the fans were to form a union and demand lower ticket and concession prices and to go on strike until their demands were met, they might stand a chance of actually winning such a strike.
* * * * * * *
Yes, we went to a baseball game last night. Parking was free, the great seats were $10, and we got a good honest game out of it. It was the Triple A Tucson Padres, who are in their last year in Tucson, hosting the Fresno Grizzlies. Next year they play in El Paso, and unless the local Golden Baseball League franchise is re-activated we will be without baseball here in the Old Pueblo next year.
Tucson isn't exactly a baseball town. The Sidewinders did not get fan support, and now they're in Reno playing as the Aces. The Tucson Padres came here with their owners expecting Escondido to build them a new ballpark, but that fell through. El Paso then agreed to build a new ballpark for them and it will be ready next year.
I like minor league ball, in that you get an honest game. The players are all itching to move up to the majors, so they're not yet crybabies.
As for major league ball: I won't go.
When the players came back after the 1994 strike, I went on strike as a fan and I'm still on strike. I can't so much tell you the teams who have been in the World Series since then.
* * * * * * *
Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat.
Monday, February 4, 2013
There's a New Lady in my Life......
I can now make this public.
I am in a committed relationship with an extremely attractive brunette named Sheila. Our first meeting was for lunch, and usually first meetings for lunch last an hour or so. We were there for five hours talking, discovering that we have a *lot* of shared interests. Also trying to keep my jaw from dropping to the floor when I first saw her was a good sign.
Our second date was to have been a day trip to Bisbee, but it instead ended up being a weeknight dinner at a Chinese restaurant.
We didn't do the day trip to Bisbee. We instead visited at my house from the morning until she had to leave at night, only leaving the premises to get lunch at a restaurant I'll have to tell you about sometime. She was also over here the next day, for most of it.
She's a more private person than I am, so out of respect for her privacy I will not post a picture of her (unless she approves but again, she's a private person), nor can I disclose how it was we came to meet until she says I can. It wasn't eHarmony; I gave up on them for good last November.
I may have met her at a country & western dance lesson, or it may have been a cooking class at a community college. Was it an encounter at Safeway in the express line where we started talking and couldn't stop? It wasn't work as that I don't date co-workers so that's all I will say.
We are going to give this a go and see where we go from here. For starters I want a good honest relationship and I have every reason to believe that that is what I am going to get.
I am in a committed relationship with an extremely attractive brunette named Sheila. Our first meeting was for lunch, and usually first meetings for lunch last an hour or so. We were there for five hours talking, discovering that we have a *lot* of shared interests. Also trying to keep my jaw from dropping to the floor when I first saw her was a good sign.
Our second date was to have been a day trip to Bisbee, but it instead ended up being a weeknight dinner at a Chinese restaurant.
We didn't do the day trip to Bisbee. We instead visited at my house from the morning until she had to leave at night, only leaving the premises to get lunch at a restaurant I'll have to tell you about sometime. She was also over here the next day, for most of it.
She's a more private person than I am, so out of respect for her privacy I will not post a picture of her (unless she approves but again, she's a private person), nor can I disclose how it was we came to meet until she says I can. It wasn't eHarmony; I gave up on them for good last November.
I may have met her at a country & western dance lesson, or it may have been a cooking class at a community college. Was it an encounter at Safeway in the express line where we started talking and couldn't stop? It wasn't work as that I don't date co-workers so that's all I will say.
We are going to give this a go and see where we go from here. For starters I want a good honest relationship and I have every reason to believe that that is what I am going to get.
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