Today's Christmas was pretty much laid back. We have been blessed by some really fine weather here in southern Arizona with temperatures reaching up to 75. I am in the last day of a four day weekend, which kept me busy. I've spent a lot of time on yardwork and a lot of time on the air via my ham radio setup. I have also reached out to people I haven't talked to in quite a while and it's been good catching up.
Tomorrow it's back to work, but I expect it to be a slow work week. I have some things to do but I'm not right now overwhelmed. My customer has shut down until the second of January, and I expect that things will pick up shortly after that.
After the challenging year that I have had I thought I would be depressed, but I'm not feeling that way. I could say that I have kept so busy that I haven't had time to. Maybe some pointyhead self-appointed psychiatric expert would say that I'm running from something, but I'm going to disagree. I'm doing the yardwork since I have time to do it. I'm busy in ham radio since I have time to do it. I'm reading a Ted Williams biography that belonged to my father since I have time to do it. What I haven't had time to do is work on my coin collection, but I'm getting things done and having fun. That's all there is to it. And yes, I am spending quality time with the cats, and with the family.
Next weekend will be another four day weekend. My employer is open for business on the 31st but I'm taking the day off since I need to burn a vacation day, and that's a good day to do it. My calendar is already filling up, as that I'm getting together with a local ham who wants to help me with mastering one of the newer digital modes. Come to think of it, I probably ought to plan on barbecuing something given the weather. I think they're forecasting colder temperatures for next weekend, but so what? It's been a while since I've done a beer can chicken. If I don't do that then it will be a tritip. Maybe a pork loin roast.
That said, I think this is it for this evening. I've said enough.
I'm now going to write something for my ham radio blog.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Sunday, 12/2/18
Yesterday news broke of the passing of former President George H.W. Bush. I well remember his presidency and I remember voting for him twice. His first year of office wasn't even completed when one major world event happened: the Berlin Wall fell. A year after that we found ourselves on the verge of beginning the operation to liberate Kuwait, after which he had an approval rating that topped 90%. So what happened?
One, he went back on his promise of not raising taxes. He caved, which was one beef I had with him. Two, H. Ross Perot entered the race, which split the base and gave the election to Bill Clinton. Ross Perot said a lot of things that people wanted to hear, but when it became apparent that he might win, he went off about Cubans. I can never be convinced that Perot wanted to win, but I very easily believe that he had a vendetta against the Republicans.
That said, I think Bush 41 was one of the better Presidents. He wasn't the best in my lifetime, but he was up there.
I hope that both he and Barbara are with the Lord.
Well it's December already. Like it does every year, it snuck up on us, and all of a sudden we're wondering where the time went. It's been one of those years. I can't call it good or bad. It was a year to get through and that's all that I can call it. I still am in mourning over the passing of my father, and I'm still processing that trial where I served on the jury.
I'm debating on whether or not to open up a little and vent about that experience. The venting would be more of what happened, why that kind of crime had to occur, that I spent three weeks hearing testimony and looking at evidence and glancing over on occasion to the accused and realized that I was looking at someone who could do such a thing.
No, I don't get nightmares about it, though I still on occasion dream that I'm back on that jury, deliberating, or there was something else that had to be brought up, and the jury gets recalled to go over things once more.
Why did that have to happen? What was going on in the mind of the guy we found guilty? Is there ever going to be any kind of remorse on his part?
One more month and we're done for the year.
I'd like to think that the one that's coming is going to ease off somewhat, and be more bearable.
One, he went back on his promise of not raising taxes. He caved, which was one beef I had with him. Two, H. Ross Perot entered the race, which split the base and gave the election to Bill Clinton. Ross Perot said a lot of things that people wanted to hear, but when it became apparent that he might win, he went off about Cubans. I can never be convinced that Perot wanted to win, but I very easily believe that he had a vendetta against the Republicans.
That said, I think Bush 41 was one of the better Presidents. He wasn't the best in my lifetime, but he was up there.
I hope that both he and Barbara are with the Lord.
* * * * * * *
Well it's December already. Like it does every year, it snuck up on us, and all of a sudden we're wondering where the time went. It's been one of those years. I can't call it good or bad. It was a year to get through and that's all that I can call it. I still am in mourning over the passing of my father, and I'm still processing that trial where I served on the jury.
I'm debating on whether or not to open up a little and vent about that experience. The venting would be more of what happened, why that kind of crime had to occur, that I spent three weeks hearing testimony and looking at evidence and glancing over on occasion to the accused and realized that I was looking at someone who could do such a thing.
No, I don't get nightmares about it, though I still on occasion dream that I'm back on that jury, deliberating, or there was something else that had to be brought up, and the jury gets recalled to go over things once more.
Why did that have to happen? What was going on in the mind of the guy we found guilty? Is there ever going to be any kind of remorse on his part?
* * * * * * *
I'd like to think that the one that's coming is going to ease off somewhat, and be more bearable.
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Some Major Life Changes
I'll get straight to the point. I haven't felt like posting for a while. My father passed away last month and it is still affecting me. For all I know it may affect me for the rest of my life. I don't know. I've never been thru this before.
He would not have wanted a whole lot of attention to this. There was no published obituary. I got the "get up here right now" phone call from San Jose, and Sheila and I were on the road the very next day. I got up there in time to see him. He knew I was there but he couldn't talk.
I can derive comfort in knowing that he is with the Good Lord. Some of his friends at church found out for the first time, during his memorial service, that he was heavily involved with Project Apollo and the moon shots. As proud as he was for getting to do that, he wouldn't talk about it. Oh, he would talk about it to me, and told me some stories.
I can't tell you which is worse......the buildup to this event, or the aftermath. Both are unpleasant.
As for what he would want the rest of us to do, he would want the rest of us to be good citizens, be the best Americans we could be, and to do our best.
If there's anyone out there who is going to accuse me of being a good citizen......which I won't accuse myself of.........my dad had something to do with it.
He would not have wanted a whole lot of attention to this. There was no published obituary. I got the "get up here right now" phone call from San Jose, and Sheila and I were on the road the very next day. I got up there in time to see him. He knew I was there but he couldn't talk.
I can derive comfort in knowing that he is with the Good Lord. Some of his friends at church found out for the first time, during his memorial service, that he was heavily involved with Project Apollo and the moon shots. As proud as he was for getting to do that, he wouldn't talk about it. Oh, he would talk about it to me, and told me some stories.
I can't tell you which is worse......the buildup to this event, or the aftermath. Both are unpleasant.
As for what he would want the rest of us to do, he would want the rest of us to be good citizens, be the best Americans we could be, and to do our best.
If there's anyone out there who is going to accuse me of being a good citizen......which I won't accuse myself of.........my dad had something to do with it.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
A Nice Letter from the Judge
In today's mail there was a very nice letter from the judge, thanking me for my jury service. I'm sure the other jurors got them as well. I bring this up because sometimes little things mean a lot, and that letter means a lot. That letter is a keeper.
I'm going to take her up on her offer of contacting her office with suggestions. I want to thank her for the letter, and I want to get in touch with the prosecutor(s), to give them feedback as to why they won the case. When we were released from service, most of us wanted to get out of there, with some sneaking down the secret stairwell that was not open to the public.
OK, I've now said more about this than I originally intended. I've strongly suggested that this was a criminal matter, and that a guilty verdict was returned. Although my jury duty was an inconvenience, and I wasn't sure I wanted to be on a long trial, it was also an opportunity to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, and it was a privilege. It was also damned interesting.
Would I do this again?
I would.
However, I'm also going to admit that I'm glad that the Pima County Superior Court can't summon me for jury service for two years.
Hopefully the federal boys won't drag me into their courtroom anytime soon.
I'm going to take her up on her offer of contacting her office with suggestions. I want to thank her for the letter, and I want to get in touch with the prosecutor(s), to give them feedback as to why they won the case. When we were released from service, most of us wanted to get out of there, with some sneaking down the secret stairwell that was not open to the public.
OK, I've now said more about this than I originally intended. I've strongly suggested that this was a criminal matter, and that a guilty verdict was returned. Although my jury duty was an inconvenience, and I wasn't sure I wanted to be on a long trial, it was also an opportunity to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, and it was a privilege. It was also damned interesting.
Would I do this again?
I would.
However, I'm also going to admit that I'm glad that the Pima County Superior Court can't summon me for jury service for two years.
Hopefully the federal boys won't drag me into their courtroom anytime soon.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Back from Hiatus
OK, I can talk now.
I've been away on jury duty these past few weeks. Now that we have rendered a verdict, the State of Arizona, represented in Pima County Superior Court, has released me and the other jurors from service. By state law, we are exempt from jury duty for the next two years, but that's for matters belonging to the Superior Court.
I am free to discuss this case, but I made the decision about two weeks ago that I wouldn't. It is for reasons that I won't go into. Maybe in five years or so I might break my silence, but I might not.
It was to say the least, an interesting experience. I served once back in San Jose and that was for a DUI case. This matter was something completely different. All I'm willing to tell you is that we had a good camaraderie on the jury. We enjoyed each other's company, but the reality is that we will never see each other again. There will be no "reunion".
My employer didn't like it and neither did my wife. I didn't try to get on. I was under oath. I played it straight down the middle. I didn't try to get on and I didn't try to get off. They were made aware of my prior service so many years ago. They asked a question that had me reveal the armed robbery to them, (that was done at the judge's bench and out of hearing of the audience.)
Now it's back to the regular routine of life, which in my case, will mean on to the next crisis. There is now an overtime situation at work. No, my absence didn't cause it, and my presence wouldn't have prevented it. It's frantic at the customer end as well as ours.
I don't know when my next post will be.
In all honesty, I need a vacation to the planet Vulcan, but there's a slight problem.
Zefrem Cochrane hasn't invented the warp drive yet.
I've been away on jury duty these past few weeks. Now that we have rendered a verdict, the State of Arizona, represented in Pima County Superior Court, has released me and the other jurors from service. By state law, we are exempt from jury duty for the next two years, but that's for matters belonging to the Superior Court.
I am free to discuss this case, but I made the decision about two weeks ago that I wouldn't. It is for reasons that I won't go into. Maybe in five years or so I might break my silence, but I might not.
It was to say the least, an interesting experience. I served once back in San Jose and that was for a DUI case. This matter was something completely different. All I'm willing to tell you is that we had a good camaraderie on the jury. We enjoyed each other's company, but the reality is that we will never see each other again. There will be no "reunion".
My employer didn't like it and neither did my wife. I didn't try to get on. I was under oath. I played it straight down the middle. I didn't try to get on and I didn't try to get off. They were made aware of my prior service so many years ago. They asked a question that had me reveal the armed robbery to them, (that was done at the judge's bench and out of hearing of the audience.)
Now it's back to the regular routine of life, which in my case, will mean on to the next crisis. There is now an overtime situation at work. No, my absence didn't cause it, and my presence wouldn't have prevented it. It's frantic at the customer end as well as ours.
I don't know when my next post will be.
In all honesty, I need a vacation to the planet Vulcan, but there's a slight problem.
Zefrem Cochrane hasn't invented the warp drive yet.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
On Hiatus for a Few Weeks
I have to announce that this blog is going on hiatus for a few weeks. At the end of those few weeks I will be able to explain why. I will not go into very much detail........it will be obvious to the readers (if I have any) when that emerges.
See you then.
See you then.
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Odds, Ends, and Random Thoughts.....8/12/18
I got a phone call from my employer a few days ago. Some work is coming my way, starting in two weeks, give or take a few days. I forgot to ask who the client was but it isn't the same one that I had before. They were based in Oro Valley and although it was a longer commute than I would have liked, I really enjoyed working there.
As it is, I've been in touch with a friend of mine that I made while I was there. We're heading out for lunch tomorrow. His gut feeling is that they are going to be asking for my services again in a few weeks, which I'm good with. They're just going to have to work it out with my boss.
The one thing I like about the new gig is that I can work out of our business office, which is on my side of town. I won't have to leave the driveway at 6:15. I can leave at 7:30, and be home in time to support the ham radio traffic net that I've gotten involved with somewhat recently.
There will be some travel associated with this. I presume it will be to Phoenix metro which is where a lot of aerospace components are qualified using environmental chambers which subject the units under test to extreme conditions involving temperature and humidity. My experience in qualification test procedures was for electromagnetic environments as well as mechanical shock and vibration, but I'm familiar with climatic testing.
I won't say that having all this time off has been easy. I am simply not ready for retirement. I might be ready in five years. I might not be ready at all. Solar conditions as of late have not been great for amateur radio activity, but when the sunspots come back in a few years then maybe that will be time.
I've been following the political scene from a comfortable distance. That means listening to talk radio and online reading, but not letting that dominate my daily routine. Organized Media and their sycophantic followers have three things on their mind these days. Those three things are Russians, Russians, and Russians.
It's gotten so bad that incumbent Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, who is facing a tough re-election fight with challenger Rick Scott, claimed this week that he has evidence of Russian hacking in some of Florida's counties. Governor Scott has already asked for proof of this statement, but no one should hold their breath waiting for it. Senator Nelson knows his chances of losing are excellent, thus he needs to get his excuse ready.....knowing that Organized Media will harp on this for a while.
Here in Arizona, we have former Tucson City Councilman Rod Glassman running for the Arizona Corporation Commission......as a conservative Republican. I had forgotten all about him. He got on the City Council, to use as a stepping stone for the U.S. Senate, but lost to Senator Benedict McCain. (excuse me, that was a typo). Back then Glassman seemed to think he was entitled to that job. After his defeat, he disappeared as far as I was concerned.
It turns out he moved north, and became acting Town Manager of Cave Creek. I can find no evidence that Cave Creek was in any way dissatisfied with him. He appears to have switched parties to Republican upon moving to Cave Creek.
His credentials and experience are impressive. He may make a good commissioner. My problem is, is that I'm not sure I want a career politician in that slot. I have no beef with the Arizona Corporations Commission as I write this. I'm just not sure I want a McCain Democrat to be elected to it, and I'm not sure if that's what he is.
Weatherwise, we're in the monsoon season. Last weekend we had excessive heat warnings and I was outside last Saturday way too long. I was useless the next day and for part of the day after that. Yes, I should have known better, now having lived here for 19 years, but I was enjoying myself on the back patio with my ham radio setup and didn't want to quit.
Monsoon season doesn't really wind down until Labor Day. Some years we're treated to a grand finale, with intense bullet rain and cars sliding off the freeway. There's already been a fatality here in Tucson due to the weather.
Finally, I have received a jury summons, my third since moving to Tucson. I doubt that I'll be selected. I served once in San Jose, back in 1985, for a DUI trial. We returned a verdict of guilty. California law at that time (and probably still does) states that refusal to take a blood alcohol content test is evidence of guilt, and that's what happened.
However, that wasn't why I voted guilty. I initially joined one other person in voting not guilty so that a discussion was forced on the issue, which we had. I ended up voting guilty mainly based on the testimony of a subject matter expert on alcohol and toxicology that the prosecution brought in, and I told the prosecutor that if it hadn't been for that expert I would have voted not guilty as that there still may have been reasonable doubt.
Anyway, because of that, there's no way a defense attorney will want me. My NRA membership would also get me off, especially if a gun crime is involved. And if it's an armed robbery, there's no way I'm getting on since I've already survived one, even though it's now close to 40 years ago since that happened.
I would willingly serve if for some reason I got on. It's an interesting experience.
Thing of it is, it's hard to want to do this since there's no way a defense attorney would let me on, and that it's a waste of my time to show up in the waiting room.
As it is, I've been in touch with a friend of mine that I made while I was there. We're heading out for lunch tomorrow. His gut feeling is that they are going to be asking for my services again in a few weeks, which I'm good with. They're just going to have to work it out with my boss.
The one thing I like about the new gig is that I can work out of our business office, which is on my side of town. I won't have to leave the driveway at 6:15. I can leave at 7:30, and be home in time to support the ham radio traffic net that I've gotten involved with somewhat recently.
There will be some travel associated with this. I presume it will be to Phoenix metro which is where a lot of aerospace components are qualified using environmental chambers which subject the units under test to extreme conditions involving temperature and humidity. My experience in qualification test procedures was for electromagnetic environments as well as mechanical shock and vibration, but I'm familiar with climatic testing.
I won't say that having all this time off has been easy. I am simply not ready for retirement. I might be ready in five years. I might not be ready at all. Solar conditions as of late have not been great for amateur radio activity, but when the sunspots come back in a few years then maybe that will be time.
- . . . -
I've been following the political scene from a comfortable distance. That means listening to talk radio and online reading, but not letting that dominate my daily routine. Organized Media and their sycophantic followers have three things on their mind these days. Those three things are Russians, Russians, and Russians.
It's gotten so bad that incumbent Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, who is facing a tough re-election fight with challenger Rick Scott, claimed this week that he has evidence of Russian hacking in some of Florida's counties. Governor Scott has already asked for proof of this statement, but no one should hold their breath waiting for it. Senator Nelson knows his chances of losing are excellent, thus he needs to get his excuse ready.....knowing that Organized Media will harp on this for a while.
- . . . -
Here in Arizona, we have former Tucson City Councilman Rod Glassman running for the Arizona Corporation Commission......as a conservative Republican. I had forgotten all about him. He got on the City Council, to use as a stepping stone for the U.S. Senate, but lost to Senator Benedict McCain. (excuse me, that was a typo). Back then Glassman seemed to think he was entitled to that job. After his defeat, he disappeared as far as I was concerned.
It turns out he moved north, and became acting Town Manager of Cave Creek. I can find no evidence that Cave Creek was in any way dissatisfied with him. He appears to have switched parties to Republican upon moving to Cave Creek.
His credentials and experience are impressive. He may make a good commissioner. My problem is, is that I'm not sure I want a career politician in that slot. I have no beef with the Arizona Corporations Commission as I write this. I'm just not sure I want a McCain Democrat to be elected to it, and I'm not sure if that's what he is.
- . . . -
Weatherwise, we're in the monsoon season. Last weekend we had excessive heat warnings and I was outside last Saturday way too long. I was useless the next day and for part of the day after that. Yes, I should have known better, now having lived here for 19 years, but I was enjoying myself on the back patio with my ham radio setup and didn't want to quit.
Monsoon season doesn't really wind down until Labor Day. Some years we're treated to a grand finale, with intense bullet rain and cars sliding off the freeway. There's already been a fatality here in Tucson due to the weather.
- . . . -
Finally, I have received a jury summons, my third since moving to Tucson. I doubt that I'll be selected. I served once in San Jose, back in 1985, for a DUI trial. We returned a verdict of guilty. California law at that time (and probably still does) states that refusal to take a blood alcohol content test is evidence of guilt, and that's what happened.
However, that wasn't why I voted guilty. I initially joined one other person in voting not guilty so that a discussion was forced on the issue, which we had. I ended up voting guilty mainly based on the testimony of a subject matter expert on alcohol and toxicology that the prosecution brought in, and I told the prosecutor that if it hadn't been for that expert I would have voted not guilty as that there still may have been reasonable doubt.
Anyway, because of that, there's no way a defense attorney will want me. My NRA membership would also get me off, especially if a gun crime is involved. And if it's an armed robbery, there's no way I'm getting on since I've already survived one, even though it's now close to 40 years ago since that happened.
I would willingly serve if for some reason I got on. It's an interesting experience.
Thing of it is, it's hard to want to do this since there's no way a defense attorney would let me on, and that it's a waste of my time to show up in the waiting room.
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