B.C. - Just Talking

In Memory

nospam@example.com (Bill) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:22:00 -0700

This past week my family suffered a loss of a great man. My grandfather passed away at the age of 89. Actually he was a couple weeks shorts of that birthday, but we'll give it to him. He deserves it.

It was one of the hardest things I ever went through and much harder than I ever imagined. He had been deteriorating for the past couple of years, and we knew the end was coming. I thought that would make it easier. I was wrong.

I have been fortunate not to have experienced much loss in my life so far. My other grandfather passed away in 1994, and while sad, it wasn't as hard as this one. Maybe because we was down in Florida, so he wasn't around for day-to-day life as much, although I still miss him as well.

I tried to take each as a celebration of their lives, as they both had long, healthy and prosper lives.

Anyway, I wanted to say something at the funeral, and I even started to try and write something then, but it just wasn't going to happen. What can I say, I can be a big mush at times.

So here are some thoughts...

Continue reading "In Memory"

Bill & Ansel ?

nospam@example.com (Bill) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:50:30 -0700

So the wife and I escaped from the kids this weekend, well a couple of hours anway, and saw Julie & Julia. In fact, it was the first movie I have seen in a theater in a long while that didn't involve something blowing up. Which means I have been to the movies with my son much more than my wife over the past year, something I will need to address.

One of the key plot lines in the movie of course was the ongoing blog that Julie was writing. As an aside, if you have seen the movie and are interested, the actual blog is still out there, and you can read it at http://blogs.salon.com/0001399/2002/08/25.html. And for the really curious, Julie Powell's current blog is here

Of course it got me thinking about this space again, and of my photography hobby/business/fetish.
Now I don't have any illusions of walking in her footsteps or becoming famous, but I would like a regular routine to report on as I find the writing the nice outlet.

Now with three kids and all their activities, I doubt I would have much follow through on any kind of photography project, so now Ansel Adams projects for me in the near future.

Living in the suburbs is interesting at times, but not that much, and I doubt anyone wants to read about me re-sealing my driveway.

We are beginning the college search/testing/application process this year, which should bring loads of stress, tears, confusion and bills. Although it will have the upside of scaring the sh*t out of all those friends (Lee) who have just begun the parenting process to what they have to look forward to.

Hmmm....might actually have an entertaining topic there. That is until my daughter gets wind of it and whines for me to stop.

Stay tuned, only 9 more days until junior year begins!!

Taking it to the streets

nospam@example.com (Bill) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:50:00 -0700

On my next to last night working in the big city (New York for anyone joining in late), I was early for my train. Which is generally newsworthy enough, but not the point of this post.

While waiting, I was listening to one of the many musicians that frequently play during rush hour. Normally I pass them without notice as I am in a rush. However, this time I had to time to listen.

It was just a single reggae guitarist playing very mellowing music. He was a musician for musics sake and he played beautifully. Sadly, my train was announced so I threw him 5 bucks for a copy of his CD and headed home. On the way, the thought occurred to me that all of the current pop "stars" should care more about the music than wrapping their bodies around polls. Then again, there would be way to many tabloid writers out of work.

Anyway, if you like guitarist and/or reggae, check this guy out at http://jahstix.com.

Not giving up yet

nospam@example.com (Bill) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:35:38 -0700

Well, I really have wanted to write on here, but it hasn't been working out.

I have had some thoughts, and have been trying desperately over the past month or so to write about my best friend having his first child, about 15 years after I had mine, but it just isn't happening. Don't think you can call it writers block, since I don't consider myself a writer. I just have not been able to put sentences together in a while.

Right now I am chalking it up to exhaustion, trying to figure out my career path and how I should be building my photography hobby.

I really though I'd be bit more relaxed after the vacation and would have plenty to write down, but nothing so far. But I am not giving up and will keep this site alive for a little bit longer. I said in the beginning I wasn't sure how long this would last.

On the positive side, this week starts my son's soccer season, followed by dance competition and lacrosse games in the coming weeks. So with all that going on, I should be presented with some good material to write down.

And maybe I will be able to formulate my joy into words of seeing my friend trying to figure out why babies don't sleep through the night.

Where it all started

nospam@example.com (Bill) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:28:10 -0700

While editing a video, chatting on Facebook, listening to MP3s, getting weather updates and watching his RAID drive re-build all at the same time, I am amazed that this is how it started.

At least for me.

Recording the Present

nospam@example.com (Bill) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:15:37 -0700

Wow...almost 2 full months since I posted something. I guess it was either let this die or carry on, so I'll give it another shot.

It's not that there hasn't been anything to write about, but I either go involved in other projects, including joining the Facebook revolution, or just didn't have the energy. Facebook, which now according to my daughter "has too many old people on it", seems to have taken way too much of my time, but it is proving entertaining and has let me re-connect with some old friends.

It might be just a coincidence with my becoming an active user, but seems like a lot from my generation has just started logging on to it in the past 6 months or so, again to the dismay of my kids.

Anyway, that is not what prompted my to log this entry.
Continue reading "Recording the Present"

Wonders of Technology

nospam@example.com (Bill) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:44:00 -0700

Every month as I sort through the bills, it amazes me how many different things we pay for now that didn't even exist 20 years ago. I am sure that this happens on an almost constant basis over the generations. I can't imagine someone's reaction to their first bill for electricity, "What the **** is a kilowatt?"

Just seems like I am writing a lot of checks for things that were unheard of as little as ten years ago.

Satellite/Cable Bill - Ok, this has been around longer than 20 years, but when you look at the many 'tiers' of service, plus 'premium' channels, it is getting a little out of control. Let's not forget about the surcharges for HighDef/Digital service or the DVR/Tivo subscriptions.

Continue reading "Wonders of Technology"

The New Math

nospam@example.com (Bill) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:09:00 -0700

Looks like I will be off again on another trip starting next week. This time it is a two city tour, stopping in London for 3 days, and then off to Tokyo for a week. Who knew you actually get a discount on an 'Around the World Fare'.

The thing that always gets me confused is the currency exchange. I took 2 years of finance classes, multiple classes on investing and the markets, had numerous securities licenses, work on Wall Street, yet last time in London it took me 3 days to get the currency conversion right? I kept thinking everything was so cheap. Mainly because I was dividing instead of multiplying. Go figure.

Every time I look at the currency rates, my mind shuts off and I just can't figure it out. Until now. I finally came up with terms I can understand: The Beer Exchange Rate.

The after work watering hole in Tokyo has a happy hour beer price of 500 Yen, which when I was first there was equal to $4 US. Next time I was there, the price was still 500 Yen, but now it costs me $5 US.

Current price of a Tokyo beer in US Dollars according to Yahoo Finance: $5.12. Ok, so Yahoo doesn't quote it exactly that way, but it does put it into a perspective I can relate to.

At least London is working in my favor. If I remember correctly, a pint in London cost 4 Pounds, which was $8 US last September. Now it is down to $6.26 a pint.

I think if the Wall Street Journal exchange rate tables were done this way, it would make a lot more sense.

So whats the lesson here? Drink much more in London and remember to hit the Duty Free shop on the way out of town.

Charge....it.

nospam@example.com (Bill) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:45:00 -0700

It seems the economy is still in a downward spiral. Major companies are laying off people by the thousands. The stock market is in free fall, while 401(k)s are IRAs are shrinking in front of our eyes. So what is the big news out of this on Long Island. Well the opening of a brand new shopping center of course!

My crack research staff has shown the Long Island has more square footage dedicated to retail space per capita than any other place in the country. OK, I just made that up, but would anyone be surprised if it was actually true? I mean, I like browsing the mail as much as the next guy, but I really don't need 5 of them within 20 minutes of me.

The latest attempt at re-inventing the shopping experience is called The Arches and already it is the talk of the town.

Continue reading "Charge....it."

Brain Dump

nospam@example.com (Bill) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:32:13 -0700

I really do have things to write about. Sadly when I finally get a chance to sit down at the computer with time all those great ideas are long out of my head. You would think with all the electronic gadgets I carry around I would be able to save/store/record them when the thoughts occur to me, yet somehow it never happens

The election looks like it is over. Even if McCain gets all the swings states now, it wont be enough. Not really a surprise with the way the economy is going. Not that Obama is going to fix it, but it is the nature of the voting public is to chase out the incumbent party when things are this bad.

If you want to read a good take on who to blame, read this.

I do have a whole rant in my head of how/why the whole party system should be thrown out. It makes it far too easy for too many just to vote the 'line' without knowing what the candidates stand for. Not saying the results would be different, but I wonder what the results would look like if voters had to read the platforms of both candidates without names and parties attached and then cast a vote.

On an entirely different note: I do know why the best TV shows are no longer on the major networks, but now on cable. What I can't figure out is how a full 'season' of shows is down to 12 episodes. Thats less than three months of weekly shows every year. Which is sad only because when I have so few shows in the TiVo, I wish they would run longer.

We are going to try and lose the kids in a corn field maze this weekend, so I hope to have some pictures to post that don't involve a soccer ball.