Monster rainstorms continue to plague north Texas, causing rivers to crest well beyond flood stage. Lots of wild rivers, awful damage, and human drama...fortunately for us, no damage in our area. As much as I love rains and storms and watching flashes of lightening and hearing cracks of thunder, I am ready for a very brief respite.
Tomorrow, I have jury duty. Petit jury, municipal court. So, I won't be on a murder trial, I suspect. But I did think of some book titles as I contemplated the trip downtown, via DART train: Municipal Murder; Municipal Manslaughter; or Murder by Municipality.
The following day, I deliver the Bastard to a good mechanic for a pronouncement: repair or replace. The last few days have given me several signals that I should replace: the plastic at the top of the key broke, making it impossible for the key to stay on a keyring; the odor of burnt rubber continues to occasionally fill my nostrils as I drive; the shudders caused by the broken motor mount are getting much, much worse, to the point that it feels and sounds like the car is in the process of stalling; I've noticed the paint on the rear view mirror on the driver's side door has lost all its luster and the plastic is showing through the paint; ditto the top of the rear bumper; when my wife opens the passenger side front door, the squeel is loud and sounds too much like the sound I imagine a human who's just been stabbed in the chest would make. Today, on the way home from work, I asked my wife what color car I should get, if by chance I decided to replace the Bastard. I take that as a sign from my psyche.
Friday night, my wife and I will join two other couples from the neighborhood for Lebanese Food, our first Ethnic Night Out for the homeowners association. I've been attempting to get our neighborhood to develop more of a sense of community; this is a start.
Beginning a week from this Friday, I have a series of two more weekends devoted to client meetings. I'm going to put my foot down one day and tell each client I'm willing to give up three weekends a year for the client, no more. That will limit the weekends I give up to clients to 18, at the moment. I think maybe I should cut the number per client to two.
A visitor to my blog, Auntie Murray, reported on someone else's blog an interesting task she was doing for work. Mary (her other name), if you read this, please tell me why you were looking up the words to "Everybody Knows" and whether it was the same song written by Leonard Cohen.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Sunday, July 8, 2007
More Soon, I Promise...
I've not posted for a few days because I've been away at client meetings. Board meetings, social events, educational events...they take my time and argue against spending unavailable free time posting irrelevant comments. So, I'm sorry if you've been expecting comments and have found them wanting.
I'm still tired from my events. Late nights (11:30 pm +...not late for you, perhaps, but for me, very late), early rising (5:00 am or earlier...ditto), and the requirement that I be "up" to talk to people make this whole process very draining.
There will be more soon. Suffice, for now, to know that my car is still the same old Bastard; I have not become Republican: I like pecans., etc.
More soon, I promise.
I'm still tired from my events. Late nights (11:30 pm +...not late for you, perhaps, but for me, very late), early rising (5:00 am or earlier...ditto), and the requirement that I be "up" to talk to people make this whole process very draining.
There will be more soon. Suffice, for now, to know that my car is still the same old Bastard; I have not become Republican: I like pecans., etc.
More soon, I promise.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Same Job
I was impressed, though not overly so, with the 2007 Avalon I drove on the Fourth. I liked the Prius, too, and was surprised at how comfortable it was, considering its price compared to the Avalon. But, both of them disappointed me to the extent that I think any car that costs $20K or more should create a near orgasmic experience. Neither did.
I'm still looking. I'm still wondering how much I should spend on the Bastard before I give up and euthanize the beast. I have an idea it may be a while longer. Although, I was thinking...my wife has had her car for 5 years and it's now paid off. If I bought a car now, financed it for five years, it would be paid off when her car reaches 10 years...and we could start over. It may be worth thinking aobut.
Tomorrow morning I got to a client meeting. The board meeting starts at 1 pm, but we arranged for lunch for the early arrivals at noon. And a couple of reporters want to talk to me around 10 am, so I have to get there early. And then, the board meeting, sure to be contentious and surly. Possibly nasty for me, since the big problem is money and the amount they pay my company is a big target. I'm spitting on nickels or whatever I'm supposed to do to give myself 'luck.' Yeah, right, luck. Luck, Santa Claus, and Jesus have a lot in common.
It will all be behind me around 2 pm on Sunday, when I can return home, look at the pile of work that developed during this weekend meeting, and plan a year's worth of work for the remainder of the summer.
I want to be an ex-summer-school-teacher. I want to work during the summers by thinking about how to do it all ove again, but better.
I bought lunch today for a colleague, a good 15 years my junior, who just returned to Dallas with his wife (who got a nice job)...and now he's in the market. I offered him a position with my company at a very low base salary, but with a commission structure that could both make him some serious money and save my company if he is successful. I'm not terribly optimistic. He was paid well over $75K in his last position, about double what my base would be. And he'd have to perform fast and bring in revenue very, very quickly. He may choose something with more stability and more promise. I should take the same job that's probably going to be offered to him.
I'm still looking. I'm still wondering how much I should spend on the Bastard before I give up and euthanize the beast. I have an idea it may be a while longer. Although, I was thinking...my wife has had her car for 5 years and it's now paid off. If I bought a car now, financed it for five years, it would be paid off when her car reaches 10 years...and we could start over. It may be worth thinking aobut.
Tomorrow morning I got to a client meeting. The board meeting starts at 1 pm, but we arranged for lunch for the early arrivals at noon. And a couple of reporters want to talk to me around 10 am, so I have to get there early. And then, the board meeting, sure to be contentious and surly. Possibly nasty for me, since the big problem is money and the amount they pay my company is a big target. I'm spitting on nickels or whatever I'm supposed to do to give myself 'luck.' Yeah, right, luck. Luck, Santa Claus, and Jesus have a lot in common.
It will all be behind me around 2 pm on Sunday, when I can return home, look at the pile of work that developed during this weekend meeting, and plan a year's worth of work for the remainder of the summer.
I want to be an ex-summer-school-teacher. I want to work during the summers by thinking about how to do it all ove again, but better.
I bought lunch today for a colleague, a good 15 years my junior, who just returned to Dallas with his wife (who got a nice job)...and now he's in the market. I offered him a position with my company at a very low base salary, but with a commission structure that could both make him some serious money and save my company if he is successful. I'm not terribly optimistic. He was paid well over $75K in his last position, about double what my base would be. And he'd have to perform fast and bring in revenue very, very quickly. He may choose something with more stability and more promise. I should take the same job that's probably going to be offered to him.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Fireworks and Cars
I was up just after 6:00 this morning, even after staying up well beyond 1:00 am last night. Surprise, surprise.
We heard the massive explosions of the Kaboom Town fireworks extravaganza last night and even saw a few, but our choice (along with several others) of a viewing spot by the side of the road was not good. A large clump of trees blocked our view. I think next year we'll simply have to make a point of spending several hours ensnarled in traffic so we can get a good vantage point. It's only a 30-minute show, but worth the inconvenience every few years.
Thanks to my habit of listening to Cartalk, it finally occurred to me that I should look on Click & Clack's website to try to find a mechanic for my Avalon, someone I might be able to really trust to give me the straight scoop: is the vehicle worth investing in, or should I bit the bullet and replace? I found what I believe is just such a mechanic. There are many, many reviews, all of which give glowing reports of the guy and all of which suggest he is absolutely honest and exceptionally knowledgeable about Toyotas.
I called and spoke to the guy and he impressed me. So, I made an appointment to take my car in next week. When I told him the Toyota dealership's paperwork said I had a broken 'dog born mount,' he said it was actually the 'dog bone mount' and he said there is usually a reason for that mount to break. He said it's pointless to have it repaired without first knowing why the mount broke, suggesting that if we found the reason, that reason may or may not argue against spending any more on it.
If repairing the motor mount and the EGR and VSV valves will give me reasonable assurance that the car will last, reliably, at least until the end of this year, it's probably worth getting them repaired. Of course, I will need new tires all the way around just to pass state inspection this month, so that adds a chunk of money to the equation.
As it stands now, the horrific vibration at idle almost certainly will reduce the resale or trade-in value of the car dramatically. But, if I spend the money on it, I'll have to keep the vehicle for a good while to recoup the cost.
I'd rather be spending the money on retirement.
We heard the massive explosions of the Kaboom Town fireworks extravaganza last night and even saw a few, but our choice (along with several others) of a viewing spot by the side of the road was not good. A large clump of trees blocked our view. I think next year we'll simply have to make a point of spending several hours ensnarled in traffic so we can get a good vantage point. It's only a 30-minute show, but worth the inconvenience every few years.
Thanks to my habit of listening to Cartalk, it finally occurred to me that I should look on Click & Clack's website to try to find a mechanic for my Avalon, someone I might be able to really trust to give me the straight scoop: is the vehicle worth investing in, or should I bit the bullet and replace? I found what I believe is just such a mechanic. There are many, many reviews, all of which give glowing reports of the guy and all of which suggest he is absolutely honest and exceptionally knowledgeable about Toyotas.
I called and spoke to the guy and he impressed me. So, I made an appointment to take my car in next week. When I told him the Toyota dealership's paperwork said I had a broken 'dog born mount,' he said it was actually the 'dog bone mount' and he said there is usually a reason for that mount to break. He said it's pointless to have it repaired without first knowing why the mount broke, suggesting that if we found the reason, that reason may or may not argue against spending any more on it.
If repairing the motor mount and the EGR and VSV valves will give me reasonable assurance that the car will last, reliably, at least until the end of this year, it's probably worth getting them repaired. Of course, I will need new tires all the way around just to pass state inspection this month, so that adds a chunk of money to the equation.
As it stands now, the horrific vibration at idle almost certainly will reduce the resale or trade-in value of the car dramatically. But, if I spend the money on it, I'll have to keep the vehicle for a good while to recoup the cost.
I'd rather be spending the money on retirement.
An Unfamiliar Appreciation
According to my watch, it's closing in on 1:00 am and that makes it, officially, the Fourth of July. I've long been one who finds chest-thumping nationalism both offensive and dangerous, but that's not what I think the Fourth of July is, or should be, about.
What's important about the Fourth of July is that it acknowledges and appreciates the actions of a group of brave people who, despite their human frailties and imperfect attempts to achieve justice, did in fact create a form of government that has endured for more than 200 years and has made the lives of many, many people better for it.
This Fourth of July, though, we're saddled with a President who cannot understand the fundamental principles of democracy. We're dealing with a set of wars of our own making that, regardless of the arguments made in their support, are examples of what can go wrong when democracy fails. We're facing a world that, because of the wreckless arrogance of the sitting President and the mistakes of several of his predecessors, loathes us and much of what it appears we stand for. This Fourth of July we're confronted with an example of what can happen when the worst aspects of religion are allowed to mold public policy, both here and abroad. In the USA and in countries across the globe, terrorism (or whatever you call it) is striking fear into the hearts of millions.
In spite of all this, I think the fundamental concepts that were codified by the men who brought a new breed of democracy to life remain valid. Certainly, their ideas of democracy have been adapted over the years to recognize changes in the world and to correct mistakes in the original ideas upon which modern democracy is based. The world largely acknowledges (though there remain horrible examples that the world still has dangerous holdouts) that women deserve an equal place in democracy and, indeed, the world. Slavery has been clearly labeled as inhuman by most of humanity. But there is still so much inequality yet to be quelled. There is so much to do.
The Fourth of July and the people who gave birth to this country, the USA, should be celebrated today. Our independence should be celebrated. The ideals upon which this country are based should be celebrated. We may disagree about what constitutes democracy. We may argue that capitalism and democracy are, when paired together, murderous. We may argue that democracy is still an experiment destined for failure. The point is this: we can argue. We can disagree. We can publicly castigate people in power when we realize the people we (or our fellow citizens) elected to high office are incompetent, ape-like, stupid, and dangerous.
All of the negatives can be viewed as positives...not as positives we want to keep, but as examples of why there is still hope. We live in a decidedly imperfect world and in a decidedly imperfect country. There are misuses of power taking place from morning to night. There are huge chasms between the haves and have-nots in this country. There is systemic corruption that seems insurmountable. There are systemic problems that make it appear, sometimes, that we cannot solve the problems of race and religion and poverty and education and on and on and on.
We should still celebrate. Wave the flag. Appreciate. Despite its many, many faults, this country of ours has enormous potential. But we have to be careful with it. And we have to look beyond our own borders when we are looking for people to help. Because if we help people worldwide who need help, our efforts to quell the religious zealots and their supporters will be more successful...the world will continue to improve...and we can solve the problems of humankind and of the earth. At least the Fourth of July gives us an opportunity to be hopeful, if we'll just take it.
What's important about the Fourth of July is that it acknowledges and appreciates the actions of a group of brave people who, despite their human frailties and imperfect attempts to achieve justice, did in fact create a form of government that has endured for more than 200 years and has made the lives of many, many people better for it.
This Fourth of July, though, we're saddled with a President who cannot understand the fundamental principles of democracy. We're dealing with a set of wars of our own making that, regardless of the arguments made in their support, are examples of what can go wrong when democracy fails. We're facing a world that, because of the wreckless arrogance of the sitting President and the mistakes of several of his predecessors, loathes us and much of what it appears we stand for. This Fourth of July we're confronted with an example of what can happen when the worst aspects of religion are allowed to mold public policy, both here and abroad. In the USA and in countries across the globe, terrorism (or whatever you call it) is striking fear into the hearts of millions.
In spite of all this, I think the fundamental concepts that were codified by the men who brought a new breed of democracy to life remain valid. Certainly, their ideas of democracy have been adapted over the years to recognize changes in the world and to correct mistakes in the original ideas upon which modern democracy is based. The world largely acknowledges (though there remain horrible examples that the world still has dangerous holdouts) that women deserve an equal place in democracy and, indeed, the world. Slavery has been clearly labeled as inhuman by most of humanity. But there is still so much inequality yet to be quelled. There is so much to do.
The Fourth of July and the people who gave birth to this country, the USA, should be celebrated today. Our independence should be celebrated. The ideals upon which this country are based should be celebrated. We may disagree about what constitutes democracy. We may argue that capitalism and democracy are, when paired together, murderous. We may argue that democracy is still an experiment destined for failure. The point is this: we can argue. We can disagree. We can publicly castigate people in power when we realize the people we (or our fellow citizens) elected to high office are incompetent, ape-like, stupid, and dangerous.
All of the negatives can be viewed as positives...not as positives we want to keep, but as examples of why there is still hope. We live in a decidedly imperfect world and in a decidedly imperfect country. There are misuses of power taking place from morning to night. There are huge chasms between the haves and have-nots in this country. There is systemic corruption that seems insurmountable. There are systemic problems that make it appear, sometimes, that we cannot solve the problems of race and religion and poverty and education and on and on and on.
We should still celebrate. Wave the flag. Appreciate. Despite its many, many faults, this country of ours has enormous potential. But we have to be careful with it. And we have to look beyond our own borders when we are looking for people to help. Because if we help people worldwide who need help, our efforts to quell the religious zealots and their supporters will be more successful...the world will continue to improve...and we can solve the problems of humankind and of the earth. At least the Fourth of July gives us an opportunity to be hopeful, if we'll just take it.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Food: Can It Bring Us Together?
A Lebanese neighbor I've never met was the first, and is so far the only, person to express interest in what I've called Ethnic Night Out (hereinafter, ENO). I presented the concept of ENO to my neighborhood, hoping to generate interest among neighbors in meeting one another whle dining at interesting ethnic restaurants. Apparently, there are few food-nuts in our area. The Lebanese neighbor wrote me a nice note, thanking me for creating the website for our homeowners association and expressing an interest in ENO, as well as eatAbout, my concept for a neighborhood food fest in which people make some favorite dishes and share them, from tables on the sidewalks, with other interested neighbors.
She is the only neighbor who has expressed any interest, whatsoever. I'm only modestly surprised. This culture (at least in North Texas) rewards people who do not engage in neighborly conversations. I'm now trying to get her and her husband to help my wife and I form the core of a new food-centric social network. We'll see.
Would that the world could be made a safer and friendlier place via a shared interest in food.
She is the only neighbor who has expressed any interest, whatsoever. I'm only modestly surprised. This culture (at least in North Texas) rewards people who do not engage in neighborly conversations. I'm now trying to get her and her husband to help my wife and I form the core of a new food-centric social network. We'll see.
Would that the world could be made a safer and friendlier place via a shared interest in food.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Wanting Memories of Maine
My wife's sister, who lives in Boston, sent us an email with links to information about a number of Texas towns, places that are "off the beaten path" and have some attributes that make them worth visiting (at least to some people). If I can convince my wife that a Fourth of July day-trip is a reasonable way to relax, we may pursue one of those day-trips. What I'd really like to do, though, is join my sister-in-law and her boyfriend on their trip to Boothbay, Maine. That's tough to do this year, though, since I have a client meeting this coming Friday through Sunday...yes, same week as the Fourth. The client, though, has come to the same conclusion I have: it is utter insanity to schedule a meeting at a time when so many people schedule their own vacation time. So, next year there is a chance for this holiday.
In the meantime, we will explore options for very quick snippets of free time.
In the meantime, we will explore options for very quick snippets of free time.