Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Figured it was time to update the ol' blog.

Can't say there is much going on, other than a current trend toward insomnia. I have no idea what is going on. I have had a very difficult time getting to sleep for about two weeks now. And, once asleep, I wake up again only to stay that way for a an hour or more. Last night took the cake though. Went to bed at 10:00 roughly, and then woke up at midnight and was up until at least four! Funny thing, I wasn't that tired when I had to get up at six today. Hopefully tonight I will be able to seriously crash. It isn't like I am worried about anything. I figure, it all must be part of that hitting the 40 mark.

Kids are funny as ever though. Andrew was telling me all about a train track he saw in a magazine on the way to school this morning. I asked him to tell me about it. He obliged with, "well, there are two blue things, a curve, and two hookers in the middle". I came undone with that remark. Where else WOULD hookers be? Of course, he was simply talking about two sections of straight track, but I will be calling them hookers from now on I assure you.

Lydia gets report cards this Friday. Kindergarten report cards are kind of funny. I am not sure what they really indicate other than pigeon holing. She has been really sweet lately, and not too bossy. She was in a phase there where she was getting pretty bossy and having an attitude with everyone in the house. Glad she seems to be over that.

I have applied for a couple of different jobs. One at a University in town for a job similar to what I do now, but for their microbiology department. They are still recruiting on that one with no close date listed. So, open untill filled I suppose. The other is for a water Chemist with the county. That job looks pretty interesting, and according to the status listing on their website, notices were going out to prospective candidates. I haven't received one yet, so I may not be a candidate. I am not really expecting to be, but it could be fun. It looks to be a very red-tape process though. The actual hiring for that job won't be done until the end of March sometime. As for the university. I am not sure if I will get an interview their either, we shall see. I don't know that I would take that job with my friend J enlightening me as to lack of pay step increases in the Cal State University System. I have an email into their Human Resources and I am waiting to hear back regarding this issue. I haven't been successful in actually speaking to someone, so hopefully an email will get a response. It now looks as if our Union at the community college where I look may ratify the latest offer by the Board. It addressed several issues immediately and insurance for now, but that will be revisited in the next contract. Honestly, most of that doesn't affect me since I was hired after 1996 and can't opt out of insurance and take that perk benefit in my paycheck. Now, the new contract will get me the salary adjustment increase of 10% retroactive to April 2005, and a 3% COLA retroactive to March 2005. That will be welcome, and that would bring right in line with low end of the university job, where I expect if they wanted me, they would hire. I would not take it for that. Here, I have perks and time built up that I wouldn't have there and learning a completely new job, with I am sure more work being a much bigger school. Why work harder for the same pay. Doesn't make sense to me.

I think I am going to buy a Nordic Trak Pro from a lady here at work. I really need something at home I can jump on and get a good work out with cardio done. Getting on my bike has been more difficult, so I haven't been riding. I should just sell my bike with all that I ride it. I will bring the truck tomorrow just in case I do buy the Nordic Trak.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

New Semester

Spring Semester begins today. I was pumping myself up all morning to get hyped for it. Gotta do something to get amped up about being barraged by 120 students today with their chemistry needs. We have two new part-time instructors this semester. So far they have done quite well, but I made it a point to the department chair that the newbies need to know what the hell they are supposed to do when they come to class. I am not the person they need to turn to for their information as to how they are to teach the class. That was well accepted and dealt with. In past semesters with new instructors, it seemed that I was the one who was trying to answer all their questions, when I don't know half the stuff they do in the lab as far as the actual instruction goes. Frustrating, but being me, I always did my best for them.

I didn't sleep well last night at all. I have been worrying about my dad the past couple weeks. He has lung cancer and has been undergoing chemo treatment. Well, his appetite suddenly dropped off to practically nothing and he wasn't even doing his normal routine. This was very unnerving because he likes to do his daily stuff. He was weak and sleeping a lot. I had no idea how bad he was because I wasn't really seeing him get up too much. He had a chemo appointment last week, and needed to get bloodwork done the day before. I told him to call me if he didn't feel up to driving. He called. I had his blood work order faxed and went to get him. He was winded and completely exhausted just walking to the bathroom in the house and back. I took him to get his blood work done, and then informed him I was taking him to the ER to get checked out because I thought he had pneumonia. We get to the ER and he gets checked out. X-ray says he doesn't have pneumonia, but they gave him some breathing treatments. Those helped him immensely. They turned him loose after a while only to call back the next day to tell me he does have pneumonia. So, we are treating that, and he didn't get his chemo treatment due to the pneumonia. So far he seems to be getting better, but his appetite still just sucks. I don't know what I can do about it. The docs gave him an appetite stimulant, but I don't know that it is doing anything. Grrr.

I am taking a golf class this semester. I would like to know the game and learn what I should really be doing before joining anyone on the links for a round. Today we practiced grips and swings. Even though I haven't hit a ball much in the past, it was amazing how bad my form was just from taking those little shots. Bad habits are easily acquired, but difficult to part with. I was moving my head way too much. Hopefully, I will do better next Tuesday.

Friday, January 13, 2006

stream of consciousness

I just feel like writing anything that comes to mind today, as my mind is racing with lack of sleep and fighting off a headache. I have no clue where this will head or end up. It should be fun.

Driving to work today, I was noticing a lot of 2004 political bumperstickers still clinging for life on vehicles. People, seriously, that election is way long gone. Get out the scraper and get that off your car. You had enough care to put it there, now show some respect for your character (sorry, I mean candidate) and peel it off your car. There were two in particular that really bothered me...newer Volvo with mom in her freshly pressed Anne Klein suit, on her cell phone, with an under 3 toddler properly installed in the middle of the back seat in his Britax car seat --weaving in and out of traffic like she were the only one on the friggin' road! Hello, there is a kid in your car lady. Then I saw it, the sticker glaring at me like a diamond in a goat's ass, and just about as useful! Peel it off lady!

Next, an old GMC truck rolling along with dust and dirt falling off at every turn, and no doubt beer bottles clanking around the bed. I could make out a cowboy hat or two in the front seat and the owners apparently in deep conversation with one another because I could make out hands waving through the air in a very animated way. They were probably arguing as to whether or not they should boycott the Dixie Chicks. They were driving slow, weaving between lines as if they were drunk. Maybe they were, I don't know. But, they had a bumper sticker too (I wasn't too surprised). "Flush the Johns". They were flushed...rip it off your car!

I must confess, I do still have some 2004 bumper stickers hanging around. They are solidly plastered on my trash cans. I was going to make a scrapbook page about the 2004 elections and got stickers from each side. I decided, if I didn't have enough time to scrapbook my kids, why on earth should I give those clowns any of my time or room in my scrapbook? I stuck them on my trashcans. I like them there. W is stuck over the Kerry sticker because that is the way elections went.

I am trying not be political on this site, because politics really can get old fairly quickly for me. However, with all the hype on the Alito hearings and crap it is easy to get swept along for the ride. I don't know Alito at all...I haven't done much research, but I have watched a little bit of it here and there. Saw a bit of A. Spector giving a little to T.Kennedy while waiting in the ER with my dad a couple nights ago. Pretty funny stuff actually. I don't care for either Kennedy or Spector, but the sight was funny to me. I guess that is what sitting in an ER waiting room will do for you.

I have no idea what the 2008 elections have in store for us. I am actually a bit curious to find out though. Do I think Hilary Clinton will get it...I don't think so, but bigger surprises have happened. If she does, I will take it in stride. I will not threaten to run to Canada though if she does get elected because I know I would never do that. It may sound good to say that, but seriously I heard a lot of my co-workers spouting off they were packing up and moving if W got re-elected. Well, guess what? They still come to work every day with their Latte in hand collecting their paychecks and going back home to their home in the United States. Do I listen to much they say anymore. No, not really. I was ready to help them pack after the elections of 2004.

I am a moderate conservative over all. Am I a fan of Bush? No, I am not. Do I think we should be in Iraq? No, but we are there now, I don't know how we can get out of there. Obviously, neither does anyone else. Do I think Saddam is an evil bastard? Absolutely. Seriously, I have no idea where this country is headed, but I do know it has been heading in the wrong direction for a very long time now.

Enough for today.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Fabulous Day in Monterey!

I went and visited my friend J in Monterey. She is the one who is moving soon, so I had to get a visit in before she is gone from the state. We had a great time. She was apologizing because she had errands to run and some stuff to take care of. I just didn't care. I was up there to spend time with her, and told her I would help her pack. It just didn't matter. That is a true mark of friendship. It matters not what you are doing, just as long as you are hangin' together. Now, in her defense, it wasn't all errands. We had a great lunch and her hubby G was able to join us. So, that was great. We also went on a great walk around Lover's Point in Pacific Grove. Saw the sea lions basking in the sun. What a life! All in all it was a fantastic day. I was whipped when I got home though. I got home about 5:30. Fixed some dinner, did homework with Lydia, got kids ready for bed, etc. I, actually, was the first one in bed! I totally crashed!

Now, back to reality today. Classes start here at work next Tuesday, so it will be a little nutty then. I am in the process of getting all the final steps done so the labs are ready for student check-in and the like. Spring semester is always nutty because we offer 5 completely different classes which all have to be prepped and set up by moi. Plus, this year we will be doing half a semester of physical science. That will be totally new and kind of strange, but hey, it will work out just fine I am sure. I am taking a golf class this semester though, so that should help keep me sane I think.

J is going to swing by campus this Friday as she passes through. That will be cool. I will give her the nickel tour of the place. That reminds me, I need to email her directions.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

So, I did ditch work and take some pictures last Friday, December 30, 2005. We went to Morro Beach and then to Montana de Oro State Park. It was a fabulous day. The waves were pretty big, though I have seen bigger, and definitely more violent waves. We got some pretty awesome pictures which I still have download to my work computer. I got some great pictures of a coyote! We were really close, and I was able to get some awesome face shots. I am really excited about those!

I did get some good pictures of the ocean and waves, though not as many as I would have liked. Most of the pictures had too much white of the whitewater with a light background, so the details are lost. They needed more contrast. The best pictures I got of waves was at one particular rock but, then as it would work out, some dude walked right into the pictures and just stood there watching. I couldn't blame him. The waves were cool, but he totally F'd up my pictures!

There were lots of people out there watching. Some were stupid and walked out on the breakwater. I vowed if they got swept to sea, I was not risking my life to try and save them. I would probably be drown. Luckily, I never did have to follow through with that vow.

We had a very quiet New's Year's Eve. I didn't even stay up until midnight. My little Roo was still sick with his fever. I got home on Friday and he was just on fire! I had to give him a mix of both Tylenol and Motrin to get it down. I thought he was over it since he was fever free on Thursday, but obviously that was a total mistake. Bad mommy!

I have been following the terrible mining incindent in West Virginia. My brother called me last night to tell me they were alive. I turned on the news and watched that for a while, and then went to bed. I turned on the news this morning to get more of the "good news" which ended up quite the contrary. I was stunned, and extremely sad for the families that must have gone through the worst nightmare of their lives. It just sucks, that is really all I can say about that.

One of my best friends in the entire world is moving away!!! I am really happy and excited for her and her husband, but sad that she will be moving farther away. I am excited about going to see them in a state where I haven't done much exploring, so that will be very fun. I will be seeing her next Monday to spend a day with before they move out. I hope she will still be able to keep the Yahoo instant messenger. That is the way we do our primary conversations these days while we are both working. I grew up next her family pretty much our entire lives, so she and her sisters and brother are pretty much just like more family. I can't tell you how much I love them all!

New Year's Resolutions...seriously, I must get in better shape and lose some weight. So far, I am off to a pretty good start, but need to keep going and get the exercising in. I have needed to do this for years, and was doing okay, but then that fell by the wayside. I have to make it a priority and way of life.

Over and out!