I am about to break an unwritten rule of mine. I never get extremely personal on the Internet. But I have been tracking, with great interest, the status of Terri Schiavo. That is the woman who went into a coma 15 years ago and has been in a persistent vegetative state ever since. Since this information is written by me, about me, and only involves me, I feel free to tell the world. This is something that Mrs. Schiavo never did. Had she done this (one way or the other), then everyone involved (her parents, her husband and the state of Florida) would not be going through the turmoil involved with the extended legal process.
My wife and I have discussed all legal matters regarding my possible incapacitation and eventual death (we all die, don't we?). Cindy knows where I stand on my health care in all situations (at least to the best of our knowledge). I do not desire to be kept alive on a machine that will rob me of my free will. An example of this is the way that Ms. Schiavo has been kept alive. Cindy will make the determination of that at the appropriate time. Her wishes are to be honored as though they are mine, because they WILL be mine. We have spent many hours in discussion (more than most couples) and are fully in tune with each other on this matter. Anybody who attempts to interfere with this process will not be acting in my best interest, regardless of their status (family, friend, friend of the court, etc.).
She also knows that I have NO desire for a funeral and only want to be cremated and my ashes spread over the Straits of Juan de Fuca. If people desire to have a memorial service for me, I want it to be one of happiness, for I will have gone to a happier place. Though I know they probably won't be able to, I want people to be able to share stories of my lifetime and be able to laugh (kind of like the Mary Tyler Moore episode where Chuckles the Clown dies). Don't cry for me, for I will be in a much better place. Stand in the gap with my wife and children, for they will be the ones that need the help the most. Remember that you will show your love for me by passing it on to my family after I'm gone. If someone in my biological family passes before me, then I will do the same for you.
Also, don't do the same thing that they did for William Claude Dukenfield. Old W.C. had a bunch of stuff in his will and everyone ignored (almost) everything.
It may seem morbid, but I have that out of the way. I will update my will to reflect this (I can't remember if I had this in there as our will was drafted around seven or eight years ago). But realize that I don't see death as an end. I see it more as another beginning. The beginning of eternity.
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January 24, 2005
January 22, 2005
Snow, Finally!!!
We have been staying in all day due to the snowstorm that struck here the Northeast this morning. We are supposed to have between 12 and 18 inches before it is over. I have been going out and keeping the sidewalk around the house cleared. Since I enjoy shovelling snow so much (and I really do! For real!), I have been having a ball.
In fact, I had a chance to meet the gentleman who bought the house across Ridge Street. Real nice guy. Turns out that he is the Borough Manager for Hatfield PA. I got to talking with him today as we shovelled our prospective sides of the street. Then I went over and helped him shovel his side. After that, both of us came over and did the Minich's side of Ridge. We found out that we got more done quicker than if we had worked alone. I was told later that this was due to synergy, that two together can do more work than two separate. The gentleman who told me this was a wise old prospector type, kind of like Walter Huston in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
Being a Systems Administrator (and a computer weenie, in general), it has amazed me how computers have become a very integral part of my life. Not just in work. Or play. I have reestablished many relationships through the Information Highway. Keep up on news. Many other things. I guess I am just a middle-aged computer geek. PROUD OF IT, TOO!
In fact, I had a chance to meet the gentleman who bought the house across Ridge Street. Real nice guy. Turns out that he is the Borough Manager for Hatfield PA. I got to talking with him today as we shovelled our prospective sides of the street. Then I went over and helped him shovel his side. After that, both of us came over and did the Minich's side of Ridge. We found out that we got more done quicker than if we had worked alone. I was told later that this was due to synergy, that two together can do more work than two separate. The gentleman who told me this was a wise old prospector type, kind of like Walter Huston in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
Being a Systems Administrator (and a computer weenie, in general), it has amazed me how computers have become a very integral part of my life. Not just in work. Or play. I have reestablished many relationships through the Information Highway. Keep up on news. Many other things. I guess I am just a middle-aged computer geek. PROUD OF IT, TOO!
January 16, 2005
Martin Luther King
April 4, 1968 - To me, that will always be the day that I remember where I was when I heard of Martin Luther King's assassination. We lived near Fort Wayne IN on Coverdale Rd. I was 9 years old and in bed sick. It was my younger sister's seventh birthday party. My paternal grandparents had come over for the party (in the evening). Even then I had the habit of listening to the radio a lot, usually WOWO (which was a 50K watt powerhouse back then). The news came over that Martin Luther King had been assassinated. I was shocked that this had happened and went and told my parents the news. I do not remember the reaction.
I firmly believe in the same ideals that Martin Luther King stood for. There is no reason that all of us shouldn't be able to deal with each other as equals, regardless of race, religion, nationality, politics, etc. I don't think, though, that we will ever get past that. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't be working our tails off to try and get past it. Unfortunately, though, if we get rid of prejudice against one race (i.e. blacks), we will unknowingly transfer it to another group (blondes?). And prejudice can be as simple as "OK, kids, we are in a bad neighborhood. Lock the doors." when you drive through a black neighborhood. On Martin Luther King day, let's take some time to reflect on how we can work better with those around us WITHOUT the preconceptions that have hindered the races down through the centuries. Do away with the racial remarks that have caused hatred (racial jokes, flagwords, etc). Look at ALL the people around the world as people and not less than you.
One more question that (sort of) ties in with this. Who came up with the color scheme? "Caucasians" (my relatives came from the area of the Germanic tribes, not the Russian Caucasus region) aren't white (my oldest daughter says that we are more like a peach color and she's right), "black" people aren't black (not even in Africa. Arguably, though, they could be said to be closer, but it's still not a true black. I've been to Kenya. I know), "Orientals" aren't yellow and the Native Americans aren't red. I have tried to research this and it all been to no avail.
I firmly believe in the same ideals that Martin Luther King stood for. There is no reason that all of us shouldn't be able to deal with each other as equals, regardless of race, religion, nationality, politics, etc. I don't think, though, that we will ever get past that. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't be working our tails off to try and get past it. Unfortunately, though, if we get rid of prejudice against one race (i.e. blacks), we will unknowingly transfer it to another group (blondes?). And prejudice can be as simple as "OK, kids, we are in a bad neighborhood. Lock the doors." when you drive through a black neighborhood. On Martin Luther King day, let's take some time to reflect on how we can work better with those around us WITHOUT the preconceptions that have hindered the races down through the centuries. Do away with the racial remarks that have caused hatred (racial jokes, flagwords, etc). Look at ALL the people around the world as people and not less than you.
One more question that (sort of) ties in with this. Who came up with the color scheme? "Caucasians" (my relatives came from the area of the Germanic tribes, not the Russian Caucasus region) aren't white (my oldest daughter says that we are more like a peach color and she's right), "black" people aren't black (not even in Africa. Arguably, though, they could be said to be closer, but it's still not a true black. I've been to Kenya. I know), "Orientals" aren't yellow and the Native Americans aren't red. I have tried to research this and it all been to no avail.
January 14, 2005
Interesting Discovery
I had read an interesting article on www.fortwayne.com. In Fort Wayne IN (my former residence), the city had replaced a lot of the old stoplights with new LED lights. These are supposedly brighter and save electricity, which more than makes up for them being more expensive. They had replaced a small fraction of the lights and the electricity bill for these lights went down from 28K a month to 21K.
I had gotten to wondering if they had similar bulbs for residential use. So I went to the nearest Big Lots. I found bulbs that were five bucks a bulb. I ended up replacing ten bulbs in our house. Then we waited for the electricity bill to come in.
In the winter, our electricity bill is usually over a hundred dollars. This month our bill ran seventy-nine dollars. WOW! It definitely paid off. One more month like that and the bulbs are paid for.
The only thing to note is that the bulbs don't come on bright right away. They are dim at first and warm up. But a 100 watt bulb of this kind only uses 20 watts of electricity. A forty watt bulb only uses nine watts of electricity.
This is just something that I thought I would share with other people, so that they can look to save money also.
I had gotten to wondering if they had similar bulbs for residential use. So I went to the nearest Big Lots. I found bulbs that were five bucks a bulb. I ended up replacing ten bulbs in our house. Then we waited for the electricity bill to come in.
In the winter, our electricity bill is usually over a hundred dollars. This month our bill ran seventy-nine dollars. WOW! It definitely paid off. One more month like that and the bulbs are paid for.
The only thing to note is that the bulbs don't come on bright right away. They are dim at first and warm up. But a 100 watt bulb of this kind only uses 20 watts of electricity. A forty watt bulb only uses nine watts of electricity.
This is just something that I thought I would share with other people, so that they can look to save money also.
January 1, 2005
New Year 2005
I got very sick on Thursday evening. Since there is an unexpected surgery in the family coming up, I was quarantined to our bedroom. I ended up watching Gods and Monsters (Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser), most of the second season of Everybody Loves Raymond and Beethoven (the dog movie with Charles Grodin). In the process, I learned some interesting things (that most people wouldn't give two whoops and a holler about):
1. At one time, I thought that Frank Barone (from Everybody Loves Raymond) reminded me of a very loved relative. That was only after watching the first two episodes of the first season. This is no longer the case.
2. Binding has many meanings. I learned a new meaning for it over the last few days.
3. I still don't like Charles Grodin (more annoying than a Woody Allen movie marathon).
4. My beloved Cindy is wonderful. Though I have known this for 19 years (now, since I have known her since 02Dec1985), I appreciate it more and more every day. I am willing to shout that from the mountaintop but, since there is no real mountains (at least in my book) on the East Coast, I will use this Blog to announce it. Part of the reason that I have come to realize it is that she endures someone that I am reasonably sure that I would want to strangle at some point. For the answer to this, click here!
5. Everyone looks at an arbitrary number (say, the year 2005) and uses that as a new beginning. They miss the chances they have with every single second of their lives. When I am granted another second of my life, I am on borrowed time (just as we all are). This is not depressing, but a very happy thought. I am glad that I have been honored by God to live that much longer.
6. I have come to realize that a necessary part of my seabag (for life) should be a handy dose of chill pills. A good friend from Oak Harbor mentioned to me that I need to "throttle back" (this person was from the Naval Aviation community). I now realize how true that is. A lot of things that I thought were aimed at me personally, never were.
7. For the first time (in a long time), the scales read a number that I hadn't seen in a while. Fortunately, it was a LOWER number this time. The 61 days that I have been working out on my Power Rider has been paying off.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year and pray that the New Year's resolutions that you made were reasonable ones. Keep up the determination and, even if you fail, remember that it is not the end. Get up, dust yourself off, and keep going. Keep in mind that Ty Cobb (one of baseball's best hitters) failed almost sixty-five percent of the time. Failure is nothing more than a dress rehearsal for success.
1. At one time, I thought that Frank Barone (from Everybody Loves Raymond) reminded me of a very loved relative. That was only after watching the first two episodes of the first season. This is no longer the case.
2. Binding has many meanings. I learned a new meaning for it over the last few days.
3. I still don't like Charles Grodin (more annoying than a Woody Allen movie marathon).
4. My beloved Cindy is wonderful. Though I have known this for 19 years (now, since I have known her since 02Dec1985), I appreciate it more and more every day. I am willing to shout that from the mountaintop but, since there is no real mountains (at least in my book) on the East Coast, I will use this Blog to announce it. Part of the reason that I have come to realize it is that she endures someone that I am reasonably sure that I would want to strangle at some point. For the answer to this, click here!
5. Everyone looks at an arbitrary number (say, the year 2005) and uses that as a new beginning. They miss the chances they have with every single second of their lives. When I am granted another second of my life, I am on borrowed time (just as we all are). This is not depressing, but a very happy thought. I am glad that I have been honored by God to live that much longer.
6. I have come to realize that a necessary part of my seabag (for life) should be a handy dose of chill pills. A good friend from Oak Harbor mentioned to me that I need to "throttle back" (this person was from the Naval Aviation community). I now realize how true that is. A lot of things that I thought were aimed at me personally, never were.
7. For the first time (in a long time), the scales read a number that I hadn't seen in a while. Fortunately, it was a LOWER number this time. The 61 days that I have been working out on my Power Rider has been paying off.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year and pray that the New Year's resolutions that you made were reasonable ones. Keep up the determination and, even if you fail, remember that it is not the end. Get up, dust yourself off, and keep going. Keep in mind that Ty Cobb (one of baseball's best hitters) failed almost sixty-five percent of the time. Failure is nothing more than a dress rehearsal for success.
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