Alots of Chrismas news and
Alots of Chrismas news and even xmass picture to post soon. But right now I have toys to play with.
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December 25, 2002
December 23, 2002
What is a EA-K
I got this in a Comment:
---------------- Quote ----------------------------
Several days ago I set foot in a
"Linens & Things" for the first time since that memorable January evening of 1994 (where we were dragged about by the EA-K in search of the awful little "Perfect Teapot"...) Since Natalie was there, of course I enjoyed it this time. She didn't find anything she was looking for, but she bought us two bags of candy and I did find three ceramic toothbrush holders (each in a different color) for my dad to stick flowers in when he comes to stay... Also, for some reason, there was a big stack of remaindered "Harry Potter"'s, and I read where Draco Malfoy gets turned into a ferret while Natalie was looking for something or other...
Well! So here we are in 2002! Best Regards for 2003! And Merry Christmas!
Josef
(The picture where one logs in is perfect.)
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Josef and I have been friends for many years, coming on ten if my memory serves. If I am wrong I know Josef will remember. You see he is one of the oddest people I have ever meet. Before you get the wrong idea, he is also one of the most amazing. He remembers things. He can tell you the first moment we meet, when he saw an Asian Rhino for the first time, and any number of other things is a level of detail that astounds me.
But that is not what makes Josef incredible to meet. He is a kind and intelligent person, and can be the most taxing human being on the planet. He is not the mark of social grace. And here is where the humor of the moment he mentioned comes from.
I was ‘seeing’ a young lady named Karen. Not the Karen Lucci who I am still very good friends with, this was the other Karen. We so named her ‘The Evil Anti-Karen’ aka EA-K. She is or was at the time a some what shallow person, well versed in social graces, charming and at the time not a nice person at all. I wish I could say I was nice at the time but I can not. If she ever reads this I would like to say I am sorry and I hope life finds her well and that she is happy.
It was about this time of year. The EA-K, Josef and I found ourselves on a shopping trip looking for a tea pot. It was several hours of hell. If three people should never be found in each others company it was us. I wish I could say everyone fought. No, this was that painful civility and hours of being forced to be with people who had no way to relate to each other. It was that night I began to see that I really did not like who Karen was. Inside I still feel is a remarkable woman, just not outside.
Karen and I broke up. We spent some time treating each other badly that should have been avoided. In the end Josef became a Barometer of sorts for people in my life. If you and Josef could spend time around each other and you could see him as a amazing and interesting person, you were ok. We have lost touch over the years, but still run into each other from time to time. He is still one of my favorite people … thank you for stopping by Josef.
Lost One Mother...
Has anyone seen my mother? Mom and Grandpa sold the farm and moved into a house that they have rented while the new house is being built. The other night I got the email letting everyone know that they have moved… So I pick up the phone and … stared off into space. Yes, I no longer have my mother phone number. I have lost my Mother.
December 18, 2002
Wow...
When is Return of the King out ... Doh!
One Ring
*In best 5 year old voice* I am going to see two towers... I am going to see two towers... I am going to see two towers... I am going to see two towers... I am going to see two towers... I am going to see two towers...Whaaahaahahaaa!
December 17, 2002
Karen and I all dressed up
Here is a shot of Karen and I all dressed up for her party.
December 15, 2002
My Way
Last night was the office Christmas party. I must say Wow the people I work with are fun. It was at the home of Jim our VP of North American Sales. Jim is a bald Italian guy from Philli. He is one of those men who most people who meet him either hate or would follow off a cliff. I fall into the last category.
As any good party it has plenty of food, wine and song. In this case the song took the form of Karaoke. “The dreaded pastime of doom.” Most people take pro wrestling more seriously then Karaoke. And as in everything I have ever seen Jim do there were no bystanders. You ether sang or got sang to. Yes, I sang… and I had fun. One of my favorite moments of the evening was James Porter and I doing a duet of ‘My guy.’ The site of myself, Jim, Pat, Sean, Mike, and James singing ‘My way’ just could not be fully described to anyone who had not seen it. Frank Sanatra would be both horrified and proud.
As I am sure most of the other event of the evening will, as they should slip into the mist of memory, I will leave this by saying…
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." ~Epictetus
December 13, 2002
Will that be green smoke or red?
Well another Friday night during the holidays and another holiday party. One month a year I have the social life of Dean Martin… for you the younger set that would be George Cloony. Tonight will be interesting I going to a party at Bert’s.
December 12, 2002
The gift of the Magi
I got the great honor of spending a delightful evening with a very dear freind. Karen, it always amazes me how much she has changed and has not changed over the years we have know each other. Someone asked if I had any 'stories' to tell about her... my thought was no I know her too well for that.
You see I can not think for the life of me of anything that Karen has ever done that is out of place. She has had her up's and down's like all of us. But she has always definded who she is by her sprit, not by what happens to her. So the things that would be good stories you can see can see in her everyday. Her life is not nostalgic or dogmatic. She is as she has alwasy been, a force of nature... and forces of nature should not be taunted lightly.
Marry Christmas Karen,
Your poet.
In Sports, Love is up 2-0
Happy Anniversary to Jessica and Jason Moore
December 11, 2002
Quote from Mark
Interesting, I've just discovered that I have both Arabic and Hebrew on my machine, I supopse they could come in handy should I ever decide to make a concerted effort at world peace...
Dear Santa... I can explain!
I have been thinking about this whole Christmas thing. What do you want for Christmas? How do you decide what you want? I thought about stuff I have wanted/needed but have not gotten my self. As the years go by that list gets smaller. When I was a little Dan, there was tons of stuff I wanted that I did not have. Now when there is something I want I go buy it or plan ahead and save up for it. For the most part if it can fit in a box I can get it. So that leaves us with a problem. What is on that wanted/need list? Well a house, new car, retirement. Not stuff that would be appropriate to ask for on a Christmas list.
So I did what I do. I went to the cave to think (and scattered diet coke can around.) This is the list I came up with.
I want:
the company of other (banjo lessons, cookware)
to have fun (music, DVD’s, Mountain bike stuff)
to be warm. (flannel sheet for the bed)
to be organized (wine rack, shelves)
Now I know Christmas is not about gifts. It is about the company of friends, warm homes and being a better person. Help me with that stuff and you can keep the house and car.
Dreams
I had anxiety dreams all night last night. It is time to finish the Christmas shopping.
December 10, 2002
Humor
I wrote this last year when we had really big staff cuts. I post it just for giggles...
Memo
To: All Employees
From: Manager of Software Engineering
Date: 12/10/2002
Re: Productivity
Please discontinue use of terms of reality
Recently we have expanded our sales goals to meet sale goals. To offset the workload of our expanded sales goals we have made strategic staff reduction to increase productivity. In our on going drive to increase the quality of our product, we ask everyone to adopt the new “get it done now/zero defect” mentality. To facilitate this new mindset we ask you to remove some non-management orientated words from your everyday work-related conversations.
Finite: This word has been used to misrepresent time in the business world, as being limited in some way to just what the amount shown on clocks.
Or: We have found this to be to limiting as a term and would like you to replace with the term “and.” Please make a definite effort in the realm of “Yes and No” questions.
Impossible: The use of this word to describe production schedules has really set product roll out back.
My house needs Clening
The last couple months have been a real blur. With being out of town for 5 time in the last two months and the holidays my house is a disaster. So now it is 15 days till Chrismass...
December 09, 2002
The Dress
Thank you Erica Lucci for the picture
I have to tell you about this dress, not the one I have on... (different story)... The one Cache had on this weekend. It was in short a traffic stopper. I must say Wow!
Hey Dan in full color
Ok the new site is up. I am still working on it. Editing Movable type templates is still a skill I have not mastered. So stay tuned for things to keep changing.