Scary Moment

There’s nothing scarier than (a doll...more on that another time) getting a phone call from your daughter’s school saying that her bus was involved in an accident. Such was the case this morning. Although they said everyone was fine and that no one was injured in the slightest bit and that it was only a minor thing, you can’t help but think the worst. My wife and I were driving to the school to personally check on our daughter and I kept thinking to myself that this could have been much worse. What if it *had* been worse?

I didn’t give my daughter a hug or kiss this morning. I scolded her last night over homework. I told her to keep her voice down because Baby was sleeping. You take for granted that you can make up for these things later. But what if there is no later? I couldn’t imagine life without my daughter, without seeing her smiling face, without hearing her voice and laughter. All that could have been taken away in an instant.

Luckily, she’s fine. She said she had been scared and cried at first but she wasn’t injured and nothing hurt. My wife and I were relieved to hear that and gave her a big hug. It’s not easy being a parent but it’s not easy being a kid either. I need to remember that and try to be more patient and understanding. And especially to not become complacent because there might not be a later or a tomorrow to make up for anything.

$86.08

With all the talk about the U.S. reaching the landmark number of 1000 executions since capital punishment resumed in 1977, I began thinking about some things mostly morbid. There are five methods of capital punishment in the U.S. and those are

1. Death by electrocution
2. Death by firing squad
3. Death by hanging
4. Death by lethal gas
5. Death by lethal injection

I looked into death by lethal injection because this is the form of capital punishment used by the state I live in. According to their website three different drugs are used to kill the offender. Sodium Thiopental is injected into the saline I.V. which sedates the person and renders them unconscious. Then Pancuronium Bromide, a muscle relaxant, is injected which collapses the diaphragm and lungs and prevents breathing. Finally Potassium Chloride is injected which stops the beating heart. Usually the offender is pronounced dead about 7 minutes after the lethal injection begins. The cost for the drugs used to kill the offender is $86.08.

Such a small price to pay.

Made in Mexico

This is kind of ridiculous if you ask me. Apparently, eagle-eyed Representative John Carter, a Republican from Round Rock, Texas, has noticed that the uniforms used by the U.S. Border Patrol have labels that say “Made in Mexico”. Ok, ok, he probably didn’t discover it personally but I guess the fuss is that the label makes many federal agents feel uncomfortable. Mr. Carter asked "If we're manufacturing uniforms in Mexico, what's to stop someone from walking across the border in a Border Patrol uniform? How do you know who are our guys and who are their guys?" The union representing Border Patrol agents said "It's embarrassing to be protecting the U.S.-Mexico border and be wearing a uniform made in Mexico." So what’s the real issue here?

I guess Mr. Carter is afraid that terrorists or Mexican nationals or OTMs are going to waltz across the border disguised as Border Patrol agents. Reality check…individuals by the thousands already cross the border illegally *without* the aid of a uniform. And I guess the union would be happy if the uniforms were made in China or Taiwan perhaps? BTW, I’m assuming that “border” is referring to that invisible line that runs through the desert or river and not an actual port of entry.

I’m sure Mr. Carter understands that neither U.S. agents nor their Mexican counterparts are allowed to cross the border for any reason. So if someone wearing a stolen Border Patrol uniform is walking into the U.S from Mexico, that would undoubtedly raise a red flag for the agents on patrol who would probably communicate with their dispatcher, questioning whether a fellow agent is in the area. I guess I don’t really understand what Mr. Carter’s issue is. As for the union, are they also “embarrassed” that most of the wire harnesses used in their patrol vehicles are “Made in Mexico”? Again, I must not understand their issue.

Lastly, Mr. Carter and a couple of other Representatives are planning on introducing a bill that would require the Border Patrol uniforms be made in the U.S. I would think the contractor already did a cost analysis in order to supply a quality uniform at a competitive price in order to win the contract. Obviously the cost to manufacture the uniform in the U.S. was higher than manufacturing it in Mexico. But I guess it’s ok to incur the higher cost when it ensures the safety of the U.S. from Border Patrol impersonators.

Wind Advisory Until 8PM

It is so windy. The airport clocked a gust at 62 MPH. If it were just the wind it wouldn’t be so bad but we also have to contend with all the dust and sand being blown around. The mountains haven’t been obscured yet so it’s not as bad as it could be. Regardless, my allergies are acting up and even with the doors and windows closed, the dust and dirt have a way of getting in. Driving on the highway was fun with the powerful gusts of wind blowing everybody around. It’s also getting colder. It’s supposed to get into the upper 20s tonight. Woo hoo! But the forecast says we’re supposed to be back to 70 degrees on Friday. These radical fluctuations are going to make me sick. Cough, cough, sniffle, sneeze.

DOOM Was Doomed

**Spoiler**
I should have known by the reviews and box office tallies that the DOOM movie may not be what I, or fellow Doomers, was expecting. The first third of the movie had me going with the claustrophobic passageways, dim lights, and occasional scares. When the movie explains that the creatures are really mutated humans that were exposed to a 24th chromosome, I literally groaned, even though I saw it coming. Hmmm, am I watching Resident Evil?

I recall that the premise of the game revolved around the UAC accidentally opening a portal to another dimension. The Gates of Hell, through which hundreds of creatures and demons entered the human world. Sure, the movie has a portal which they called the Arc, but that only acts as a transport to Mars and not, as Doom players may think, the gate to another dimension. My favorite weapon in the game is the Plasma Rifle which I didn't see in the movie. I understand that the producers can't include *every* aspect of the game in the movie but they should have at least kept the basic premise instead of creating (copying) another one. The best part of the movie although very short was the first person shooter perspective that came in the last 10 minutes.

I'm very disappointed. :-(

God's Debris

Interesting and quick reading...

http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/godsdebris/

What Day Is Today?

Oh, that's right. It's Thanksgiving. I forgot since I'm sitting in my office in front of the computer drinking a cup of coffee and scanning reports of yesterday's work day and examining both a finance and HR report and writing this blog entry. Just call me Mr. Multitasker.

Yes, I have to work today and tomorrow and Saturday. Hey, wait a minute. Dammit, that means there's no way I can get to the early bird sale at 5 AM tomorrow and then to work on time. I guess that's the way it goes...Happy Thanksgiving!

Cingular Has Me Cinging The Blues

I got my Cingular wireless phone in March of this year and in these days no accessories are included with the phone. I decided to pay around $14 for a plastic holster that pivots and clips on your belt. My problem is that this holster broke a couple of days ago due to normal wear and tear i.e. being clipped on to a belt everyday and not able to take the stress. So I go to Cingular to see if I can get a replacement since it’s still in warranty.

First thing they ask is to see the receipt which I don’t have anymore. I asked whether or not they could check in their computer to see when I purchased the phone to determine when I purchased the holster. Oh yeah, sure, they could do that, but how would they know if I’m trying to exchange the same one and not some cheap imitation I bought online? So I show them the back of the holster which has a large Cingular logo on it. Then they say ok, but you still need the receipt to exchange it. Jerks!

So then they try to sell me a $30 leather case. I told them to f*** off and stick the case up their ass. Not really but I thought about it. I just thanked them and went on my merry way. Now I’m trying to find a cheap imitation online. ;-)

Baby Babble

Baby woke up last night and was having a good time playing. She didn't understand that Mom and Dad need to sleep sometimes. I tried to capture some of her sounds but as soon as she sees that something's going on, she doesn't want to speak. It figures! Originally there was an audio blog attached to this post but I can't seem to figure out where the hell it went. Really, it was here a second ago.

Cool

Was in Best Buy a little while ago and got to see an Xbox 360 in action. It was connected to a small plasma TV and running Madden ’06. The graphics were crisp and clean; almost looks like real people. It’s too bad that I despise Microsoft or I might consider this console. Personally, I prefer the Play Station but they won’t launch the PS3 until next year. Probably worth the wait since it’s supposed to have a chip that is more powerful than the IBM chip in the Xbox. But I know that when you’re a kid at heart, you just can’t wait for something. Got to have it NOW!

Full Of Gas

Had to fill up my Toyota Sequoia today and it didn’t cost me over $50. That hasn’t happened in a long time. I put in 21.437 gallons of gasoline at $2.099 per gallon. You do the math. My V8 engine doesn’t get very good mileage when you’re just driving around city streets. :-(

Only 38 more payments to go.

Oops, Should Have Read The Instructions

Consumer product warnings are showing up on just about everything you buy today. Of course, it’s meant to protect the consumer from possible harm if the product is used or handled improperly. Probably more so to protect the manufacturer from lawsuits, though. But in the process of protecting themselves their warnings border on the absurd. For example:

• "Do not drive with sunshield in place" - On a cardboard sunshield for automobiles
  
• "Do not use while sleeping or unconscious" - On a hand-held massaging device
  
• "Do not use orally after using rectally" - In the instructions for a thermometer
  
• "Do not use as ear plugs" - On a package of silly putty
  
• "This product not intended for use as a dental drill" - On an electric rotary tool
  
• "Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage" - On a portable stroller
  

The last one is my favorite.

Stay In Your Lane, Jackass!

I was driving down the street and this guy in a BMW is weaving in and out of traffic. He's cutting people off and is speeding. I see all this in my rearview mirror so I was prepared in case he decided to cut me off. Sure enough, he speeds past me on the right and cuts me off to get into the left turn lane ahead. Ok fine, but now his car is about 2 feet out of the left turn lane causing me to have to jog to the right (and out of my lane) to get around him. How irritating!

Hello Kitty

• Hello good friend.
• It’s good feeling you’re friend of me.
• Won’t you have good time to play with me outside?
• Love is so happy!
• I miss the good friend like you.
• See you in the moment.

Maybe it’s because Kitty doesn’t have a mouth to speak with. But I prefer her over a Teletubby any day. Teletubbies frighten me.

Here Kitty

I looked out the window this evening and what did I see? Well, not the cheetah that's pictured here. When I took this picture, I was about ten to fifteen feet away and behind a ten foot tall fence, so I presume I was relatively safe. I was kind of in awe looking at this animal, knowing that if it weren't for the fence, and if it was hungry, I would probably be eaten alive. That is if the animal didn't go for the 300 pound woman that was standing next to me. Anyway, I wonder what this big cat is thinking. Is he wondering what all these humans staring at him would taste like? Or maybe he's trying to calculate the distance needed to run and jump the fence so he can kill and eat the humans? Or better yet, maybe he's just thinking how in the hell did I end up here so far from home?

Napoleon The Cat - Part II

My wife let the cat out the other night. When he decided to come home the next morning, he was waiting by the front door and ran inside when I opened it. Then he started to cough and gag and I thought he was having a hairball attack but then he proceeded to vomit on the floor. You know, why couldn't he have done this outside? I think he was just waiting to be let in so he could make a mess inside the house. Can cats be vindictive? Do they hold a grudge? Why is he staring at me? These are questions I need answers to. Where's the Pet Psychic when you really need her?

Who Knows?

When I was in high school, I was dating a girl and we eventually went "steady". We got along well and shared the same interests. The only problem was her Dad, who didn't approve of us because I wasn't a "full blooded American". Now her Mom didn't mind us at all, it was just her Dad that had this issue. I remember a couple of times when we had plans to go to a concert or movie and I had to ask my best friend Hank to pick her up at the house. The first time Hank did this for me, I had to hide in the back of his Ford Fiesta with a blanket over me just in case my girlfriend's Dad should come out to the car. Simply ridiculous now that I look back on it. Eventually her Dad got over it and didn't mind us being together (or so he said). Maybe he realized we were just kids and that the chances we were going to make it over a year together were slim. Who knows?

But when I first found out the reason why I shouldn't go to my girlfriend's house when her Dad was home, I was really mad. I was mad that someone would have that kind of mindset. Boy was I naive. But through it all, I never at any time got the idea that maybe I should confront him or worse, murder him. I don't understand what makes kids do bad things nowadays. You see it everyday...no manners, no respect for adults, murder...just to name a few. I'm not saying that I was a Saint in my youth but I knew right from wrong. I knew where the line was and I didn't cross it (most of the time). Maybe it's because I was spanked as a child when I did something bad. Again, who knows?

Project For School

Helped my daughter complete a project for school today. We mad sea urchins out of clay and toothpicks and displayed them in a shoe box decorated like the sea floor. We had fun doing it together and I told her I saw hundreds, if not thousands, of sea urchins in a relatively shallow area during a dive in San Carlos Mexico. It was a sight. What I didn't know before this project was that the sea urchin comes in different colors like brown, purple, and green. I had no idea. The things you learn in school...

I Can't Seem To Get Enough

Sunflower seeds, that is. I think I've become addicted to them. I've been alternating between the original, jalapeno, and barbecue flavors. I don't care for the ranch flavored ones, though. I mostly eat them at work and when we go to the park. I buy the original flavor in bulk at Sam's Club but they don't have the flavored ones, dammit. I have to get those at the "convenience" store or Albertsons. I wonder if I could grow and cook my own?

Too Early

I've been seeing way too many commercials with Christmas visualizations and sounds. Don't the advertisers know that I'm not ready yet? Yes, I know that I only have 43 days of shopping left. I don't need the damn TV to tell me that. This is too much pressure.

Ghost Stories

I read that a security guard had been fired because he had seen ghosts while on patrol in a neighborhood. He informed his supervisor, who arrived at the scene and didn’t see any apparitions, and then fired him five hours later. The security company then contested the former employee’s unemployment benefits arguing he was guilty of misconduct, but a judge ruled that seeing ghosts is not the type of misconduct that can disqualify him from receiving benefits. Wow.

The point of that story was to segue into my little ghost story. The facility where I work has its own apparitions that occasionally make themselves known. When the plant first opened, manufacturing ran 24/7. During the 3rd shift, workers complained that they would be in the bathroom and hear someone turn on the shower. When they looked in the shower stall, the water was running but no one was inside. Some workers complained that they heard voices of children in the bathroom and elsewhere in the plant. There were many comments about hearing footsteps and the feeling that someone is standing behind you, and some even say they’ve been tapped on the shoulder or their hair brushed aside. The situation became so uncomfortable for the workers that management decided to call in a Priest and bless the building. That seemed to calm the restless spirits but I know they are still here.

One weekend I was working in my office and heard banging coming from the manufacturing area. I went out to investigate because there was no one else in the building and the security guard was outside. All the lights were out but I could see a shadow moving towards me and then it went straight up into the rafters. More recently, I arrived at work and prepared to unlock the door to my office and saw a small puddle of water, half in and half out of my doorway. There are no water lines in the ceiling, no recent rain, and the door was completely dry. This went on for about a week. Also recently, more reports of footsteps and voices in the bathrooms. I think it might be a good time to bless the building again.

Slick

There’s a Senate hearing going on in Washington where oil company executives are defending their companies’ profits. Exxon Mobil alone earned almost $10 billion in the 3rd quarter. Combine that with the four other oil companies at the hearing, they earned more than $25 billion in the last quarter. Senators asked Lee Raymond, Exxon Mobil’s chairman why the company raised their wholesale gas prices by 24 cents a gallon in 24 hours after Hurricane Katrina and he replied he couldn’t confirm the price increase but that the company issued a directive “to minimize the increase in price while at the same time recognizing if we kept the price too low we would quickly run out (of fuel) at the service stations.” He says it’s not price gouging but a “tough balancing act.” The execs go on to say that their profit margins are minimal, suggesting that the government is to blame because of restrictive policies, and that the $14 billion in tax breaks and incentives in the energy law Congress passed this year won’t change a thing. Blah, blah, blah. Keep in mind that the executives are NOT under oath at this hearing. Curious, very curious.

Audio Blogging

Sunday At Wal-Mart

The family and I were doing some shopping at Wal-Mart on Sunday. I fear going to Wal-Mart on Sundays because there are so many shoppers but needed to buy food for Baby and a new collar for the cat. We got lucky and found a register that only had a couple of people waiting with small amounts of merchandise in their carts. After the woman scanned all my merchandise, I presented to her a manufacturer’s $10 off coupon for the baby formula. Actually, it was a “retail check” and not a coupon. I guess it’s a check because some stores don’t accept coupons. When she took the “check”, she looked at it and then walked away from the register without saying a word. I was perplexed, as well as the gentleman behind me, who only had 4 items to buy. That’s when I noticed that there were about 5 or 6 others now waiting in line at this register and they’re all staring at me.

After an uncomfortable 5 minutes (really, I’m not kidding; we could have walked out of the store without paying) the woman returns and says to me that I have to go with her towards the back of the store if I want the formula. I said you already scanned and bagged it. She looked confused and then went through our bags to find the formula and then looked even more confused. I believe she thought the “check” was a coupon for discounted baby food provided to needy families by the state with my tax dollars. I told her it was basically a “check” for $10 dollars. She then called for a supervisor to help her and that took another couple of minutes.

The woman now proceeds to input the “check” for the amount of $10 but she obviously got confused and entered the “check” amount for the full purchase price. So once again the supervisor had to come and intervene. The Wal-Mart receipt has a barcode on the bottom so I would think all she would have to do is scan that to recover all the items but that was wishful thinking. She had to enter the store codes for all 32 items I purchased to generate another sale on the register. I kept looking back at the grumbling people behind me and tried to make them understand that it wasn’t my fault they had to wait. After around a 20 minute delay just to pay, I was free to leave with my purchases. I LOVE shopping at Wal-Mart!

Chicken Little

Saw "Chicken Little" last night and enjoyed the movie very much. Not as good as "Toy Story" 1 and 2 or "Monsters, Inc." but still laughed a lot. Even if it didn't have aliens or lasers, I still would have enjoyed it. It was a short movie, though...about 70 minutes by my watch. My favorite character besides Chicken Little? Why that would have to be Fish Out of Water. Blub, blub, glub...

Parking

Last night, the family and I had to run some errands and afterwards, decided to eat out. We were in the area of our local university who's football team was playing a home game. Most of the streets were blocked off but that didn't bother me. What irritated me was that there is not enough parking at the stadium so people park on the side streets and in private parking lots. When I say private parking lots, I mean the lots at the grocery store, the Whataburger, the Walgreens, the strip mall, etc. I noticed none of those lots had signs posted about customer parking only and towing would be enforced. Except for the McDonald's lot which was empty. We didn't eat at McDonald's but another fast food place that didn't have signs posted. I was lucky to find one spot open and took it. The restaurant only had around 10 customers inside. I wonder if I had parked in a handicapped spot, would I have been towed? Not something I wanted to find out since I've had experience in this. Anyway, I'm guessing maybe the university reimburses the businesses that allow fans to park and not shop. Must be more than what the businesses lose in sales because the customer can't find a parking space.

Pringles

I don’t particularly like Pringles® but as my daughter and I were shopping in Walgreens today, I noticed a new flavor (new to me that is). Pringles® Fiery Hot™, mmm. I’m sitting here at the computer, writing this entry, and stuffing my mouth with chips. They are spicy as the name implies so I’m also drinking an iced tea. Taking the time to eat more chips is interfering with my typing so there you go. Hasta la vista, baby.

Woo Hoo

Picked up my package from Amazon.com yesterday. Inside was my 2006 Far Side Wall calendar and Stephen King's 'Salems Lot: Illustrated Edition. Since I don't have a first edition of King's second book, I decided this would have to do for my collection. It's supposed to have around 50 pages of deleted material and revisions from the original manuscript, 2 short stories related to Jerusalem's Lot, and of course the photographs by Jerry Uelsmann. Centipede Press offered a signed, limited edition (only 900) of this book last year but it sold out before I could order. Got to get caught up on my reading!!!!

CIA Prisons

Ummm, did the world really think these "secret" prisons didn't exist? Did they think that someone who believes so strongly in their fight would just open themselves up to interrogations when captured? When the DHS issues a "credible" terror warning against a specific target and backs it up by saying they intercepted more than the usual "chatter" while monitoring terrorist communications, I think what they meant to say was that after hitting a suspect repeatedly in the head with The Yellow Pages, he or she fessed up to something. I do not condone torture to get information out of suspects but I believe this happens on a daily basis. It's been going on for years, in different countries all over the world, used by many governments, denied by all.

Dia De Los Muertos

Today, Mexico celebrates The Day of the Dead. A tradition where families remember and honor the dead by creating small altars dedicated to one or more persons. The altars are set up at home and usually contain pictures or items that had special meaning to them or their favorite food. They are decorated with colorful flowers and decorative skulls and skeletons. Some families go to the cemetery and set up the altars there and spruce up the gravesite. They will spend the day there as a family remembering their loved one in life and death. If you can put aside the macabre, you can see how special and touching this day really is.

Cough Medicine

I've come to the conclusion that cough syrups and suppressants just don't work. Not just the OTC kind but the prescription ones as well. They both do make me drowsy, though. Maybe the drug companies think if you fall asleep, the cough won't bother you as much as when you're awake. I think with the billions of dollars in profits made by the big drug companies, they should be able to make a cough medicine that really works AND tastes good, too!