I know it's been a LONG while since I posted here.
Let's see ... (now, keep in mind, each of these items is probably worthy of its own post, but I'm being brief) ...we moved from the Beev to SoCal ... Sue completed her Master's in bioethics ... and then landed a job with her Alma Mater, Loyola Marymount University (LMU) ... I earned a certificate from Golden West College (GWC) in Digital Audio ... and I learned lots of other stuff there (some they intended to teach me, some not) ... Alicia, then Lora, then Stephanie got married, each to a great man we all love ... and now we have grandkids! ... Wendy landed a not-so-dream job at Baskin Robbins ... and then a dream job in a nationally known portrait studio ... and then a BETTER dream job taking portraits at preschools and daycares and the like ... and is now taking some time off from work to finish a BA degree from LMU (gotta' love tuition remission) ... Pam hung out with us to decompress and be a beach bum for a while ... and now is in New York attending Syracuse University studying Italian Art History ... and will be going to Italy early in 2019 (yeah - she's excited) ... David tool some classes at GWC and at LMU ... and landed a great job with a national theater chain ... Oh, and we adopted a cat in SoCal (Jaspurr).
That brings us almost current.
I've been searching for a school for studio recording for about ten years, and I wasn't sure I would ever find a good match. The VERY first school I looked into closely was this place in Nashville, Tennessee called Dark Horse. It was more of an apprenticeship than a school, but I fell in love with it. Unfortunately, at the time, I was depending on Federal financial aid to pay for my education, and Dark Horse was not a Federally approved program ... so I kept looking.
Among the many changes I listed was also one I don't enjoy talking much about - my dad passed. I still can't stop the tears when I talk or even think hard about it.
My dad made it financially possible to attend whatever program I desired.
Mid-October 2018, David and I made a road trip from SoCal to Nashville, TN, where we now reside.
Everything is fine between Sue and I.
I am now a student at Dark Horse Institute (the school established by the Dark Horse Studio to fill the need for high-quality sound engineers). I have survived my first week, and have learned SO MUCH!
I make no promises, but I well try to post more often than every few years.
May God bless and keep you.
Monday, October 29, 2018
Monday, November 22, 2010
Help! Help! I'm being repressed!
Okay, okay ... it HAS been a while since I posted.
Let's see ...
We've moved ... to Buena Vista. So Sue can be closer to work, and I can be closer to the university.
I am now an official full-time student. At SVU ... a liberal arts school. These people expect me to THINK. Can you believe that? I could always fall back on technical skills before ... not here. I am struggling.
Queen Bee is working in the Registrar's office at SVU. She really enjoys her work.
Dude is facing some challenges lately. The company she was working for went away, and she hasn't found another job yet. She's attending SVU, and also works gratis in the university IT department.
Supaman and Merv ... now need to update THEIR blog. =P Bug ME will ya ...
Chuck is working at a local sandwich shop and singing in the SVU choir. She recently applied to a local pre-school for a teacher's assistant position. She was turned down by the bean counters. We're all still puzzling over that one - she is perfect for the job. She has discovered that Poof loves catnip. =)
Mr and Mrs Fred (he needs a family name) are doing well, and are expecting a child (our first grandbaby!) in late May or early June. Good timing - right around finals and graduation!
Noodle is attending SVU full-time (17 hours!) and is loving every minute of it. She started out as a history / theater double major, but has shed the theater major. She finds history fascinating, and it more than fills her schedule.
Peanut is a senior in high school this year. Where did the years go? She is doing very well in the new school here in BV.
The Boy is a freshman in high school this year. He misses the big theater departments at his old schools, but is making new friends and finding new things to do. He is looking toward starting an on-line comic.
Let's see ...
We've moved ... to Buena Vista. So Sue can be closer to work, and I can be closer to the university.
I am now an official full-time student. At SVU ... a liberal arts school. These people expect me to THINK. Can you believe that? I could always fall back on technical skills before ... not here. I am struggling.
Queen Bee is working in the Registrar's office at SVU. She really enjoys her work.
Dude is facing some challenges lately. The company she was working for went away, and she hasn't found another job yet. She's attending SVU, and also works gratis in the university IT department.
Supaman and Merv ... now need to update THEIR blog. =P Bug ME will ya ...
Chuck is working at a local sandwich shop and singing in the SVU choir. She recently applied to a local pre-school for a teacher's assistant position. She was turned down by the bean counters. We're all still puzzling over that one - she is perfect for the job. She has discovered that Poof loves catnip. =)
Mr and Mrs Fred (he needs a family name) are doing well, and are expecting a child (our first grandbaby!) in late May or early June. Good timing - right around finals and graduation!
Noodle is attending SVU full-time (17 hours!) and is loving every minute of it. She started out as a history / theater double major, but has shed the theater major. She finds history fascinating, and it more than fills her schedule.
Peanut is a senior in high school this year. Where did the years go? She is doing very well in the new school here in BV.
The Boy is a freshman in high school this year. He misses the big theater departments at his old schools, but is making new friends and finding new things to do. He is looking toward starting an on-line comic.
Friday, June 12, 2009
School's Out
How is it possible that so much time has gone by since I've written?
Today is the kids first day of summer vacation. And ... (tee hee) ... they're out of our hair ... erhm ... I mean ... out of the house (yeah ... THAT's what I mean) for the weekend. =)
Unfortunately, the weekend is not enough time for Queen Bee and I to move to Argentina.
Let's see ... the school year. I'll start at the top of the age chain ...
I got an A (99.1%) in my Java class. I'm sure my classmates hate me - I busted all the curves except one in that class. The final was a real bugger, and I scored 97% so the curve was a whopping 3% ... and I think that was the largest curve of the semester.
Queen Bee, of course graduated from SVU with a Bachelor's degree in politics and philosophy.
Dude ... you know - I don't really know how she did. I will find out and edit this later. She is working full time (and quite a bit more) for a start-up firm in BV. She and Chuck share an apartment over that way.
Superman is taking a little time off from school, allowing him to work day shifts. He has reassured me that he will go back as soon as Rosebud finishes her school. (I'm going to hold you to that promise, son.)
** UPDATE **
Superman took College Algebra last semester, and got an A! He is taking a summer class, trig, online now. He is planning to take one class per semester for the forseeable future. Working full time and his church calling in the Stake Young Men's program keeps him really busy. We're proud of you, Superman!
Rosebud made progress at UT Tyler. She is studying accounting, and I'm very proud of her for sticking with it. She's also working full time, is active at church, and takes good care of Superman ... so this is a big deal.
** UPDATE **
Rosebud just finished her semester with two A's and one C. Yay! She has two semesters left until graduation. We're proud of you too, Rosebud!
Chuck did well (as I remember) this semester. She is also working full time for the same firm as Dude.
Fred did very well. She pulled an A in o-chem 2 out of her magic hat. I'm pretty sure she was praying for anything higher than a C. I'm not sure if she got all A's or one B this term.
I'm not sure whether Noodle got all A's or one B. She was also in several theater productions, and was the student body rep to the school board.
Peanut is a bit worried about her French grade. But I think that's the only possible trouble spot for her. She really loved her photo class.
The Boy has finally admitted that he's glad summer is here. This is the first time he hasn't been sad to see the school year end.
Today is the kids first day of summer vacation. And ... (tee hee) ... they're out of our hair ... erhm ... I mean ... out of the house (yeah ... THAT's what I mean) for the weekend. =)
Unfortunately, the weekend is not enough time for Queen Bee and I to move to Argentina.
Let's see ... the school year. I'll start at the top of the age chain ...
I got an A (99.1%) in my Java class. I'm sure my classmates hate me - I busted all the curves except one in that class. The final was a real bugger, and I scored 97% so the curve was a whopping 3% ... and I think that was the largest curve of the semester.
Queen Bee, of course graduated from SVU with a Bachelor's degree in politics and philosophy.
Dude ... you know - I don't really know how she did. I will find out and edit this later. She is working full time (and quite a bit more) for a start-up firm in BV. She and Chuck share an apartment over that way.
Superman is taking a little time off from school, allowing him to work day shifts. He has reassured me that he will go back as soon as Rosebud finishes her school. (I'm going to hold you to that promise, son.)
** UPDATE **
Superman took College Algebra last semester, and got an A! He is taking a summer class, trig, online now. He is planning to take one class per semester for the forseeable future. Working full time and his church calling in the Stake Young Men's program keeps him really busy. We're proud of you, Superman!
Rosebud made progress at UT Tyler. She is studying accounting, and I'm very proud of her for sticking with it. She's also working full time, is active at church, and takes good care of Superman ... so this is a big deal.
** UPDATE **
Rosebud just finished her semester with two A's and one C. Yay! She has two semesters left until graduation. We're proud of you too, Rosebud!
Chuck did well (as I remember) this semester. She is also working full time for the same firm as Dude.
Fred did very well. She pulled an A in o-chem 2 out of her magic hat. I'm pretty sure she was praying for anything higher than a C. I'm not sure if she got all A's or one B this term.
I'm not sure whether Noodle got all A's or one B. She was also in several theater productions, and was the student body rep to the school board.
Peanut is a bit worried about her French grade. But I think that's the only possible trouble spot for her. She really loved her photo class.
The Boy has finally admitted that he's glad summer is here. This is the first time he hasn't been sad to see the school year end.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Spring Break
Have I mentioned I'm in school? Yeah ... one class at the local country club -erhm- community college. I thought I'd better learn some of this newfangled black magic called "PC Programming" so I'm in a first semester Java class.
Don't get me wrong - I'm learning a lot. BUt I have decided to submit a suggestion to the college that they create a "fast track" set of courses for those of us who might be able to go a bit faster than the norm. I mean ... I hate to brag ... but 30 years in the programming industry gives me a BIT of an edge over the students for whom this is REALLY a first semester class.
They expect me to complete three semesters of Java. Hah. Like I have money or something. I genuinely feel that I could handle the material from all three semesters condensed into one semester. I might have to actually study.
So this week I'm on Spring Break. I think I'll read ahead and see what trouble I can get into. =)
Don't get me wrong - I'm learning a lot. BUt I have decided to submit a suggestion to the college that they create a "fast track" set of courses for those of us who might be able to go a bit faster than the norm. I mean ... I hate to brag ... but 30 years in the programming industry gives me a BIT of an edge over the students for whom this is REALLY a first semester class.
They expect me to complete three semesters of Java. Hah. Like I have money or something. I genuinely feel that I could handle the material from all three semesters condensed into one semester. I might have to actually study.
So this week I'm on Spring Break. I think I'll read ahead and see what trouble I can get into. =)
Friday, January 30, 2009
Addictions
Hello. My name is Steve, and I'm an electricity addict.
You never realize how good you have it until ... you don't have it.
This past Tuesday evening, Pam, Wendy, David and I were sitting in the den watching a DVD ... and BLOOP! the power went out. (Sue was off in New York on a school trip.)
Usually, this would not be a big deal ... but it was cold out. I mean COLD. Like 20 degrees or so. We'd had freezing rain since Monday night, and ice was on everything. And ... when you live in a forest, those pretty trees all around us? Yeah ... they become a real problem when they're covered in ice. They're just not designed to hold all that weight.
Any way ... the power company said they knew about it, and that they were working to restore our power.
Fast forward a day (Wednesday evening), and we're all sitting in the den ... the DARK den ... tending a fire in the fireplace, wrapped in blankets ... no power yet. The power company told me earlier that day that we had lost a main line and a main line fuse. Great. Oh ... and ... BTW ... it might be another 24 hours or more before the power comes back on. Even better.
We cooked meat on the backyard grill ... tried to cook some potatoes in a skillet over the grill (with mixed results) ... and kept tending the fire in the den. We tried to keep ourselves occupied ... you know ... telling silly stories and such. Mostly, we ended up laughing at how we'd look back on that night and how our stories were so silly.
Pam realized that she was born in this century for a good reason. All the romantic notions about how great it might be to travel back in time and live like a pioneer ... no. She assured us (in quite forceful terms) that she would never speak those words again. As if to drive the point home, she casually mentioned needing to bathe to remove all the soot and fire grime from herself. When I reminded her that the water heater ran on electricity, she cried.
Thursday morning ... still no power ... the kids get ready for school and leave. Even sponge baths are miserable when the water is just barely above freezing. Later that morning, the power comes back! YAY!
When I got home that afternoon, Pam has just arrived home from school. She announced that the power was back, and actually did a happy dance. I told her I fully expected to find her soaking in a steaming tub. She assured me it was on her list. But first ... a nice hot bowl of oatmeal. I think addictions mess with your priorities.
It was nice to cook dinner in the kitchen again. I actually enjoyed it.
You never realize how good you have it until ... you don't have it.
This past Tuesday evening, Pam, Wendy, David and I were sitting in the den watching a DVD ... and BLOOP! the power went out. (Sue was off in New York on a school trip.)
Usually, this would not be a big deal ... but it was cold out. I mean COLD. Like 20 degrees or so. We'd had freezing rain since Monday night, and ice was on everything. And ... when you live in a forest, those pretty trees all around us? Yeah ... they become a real problem when they're covered in ice. They're just not designed to hold all that weight.
Any way ... the power company said they knew about it, and that they were working to restore our power.
Fast forward a day (Wednesday evening), and we're all sitting in the den ... the DARK den ... tending a fire in the fireplace, wrapped in blankets ... no power yet. The power company told me earlier that day that we had lost a main line and a main line fuse. Great. Oh ... and ... BTW ... it might be another 24 hours or more before the power comes back on. Even better.
We cooked meat on the backyard grill ... tried to cook some potatoes in a skillet over the grill (with mixed results) ... and kept tending the fire in the den. We tried to keep ourselves occupied ... you know ... telling silly stories and such. Mostly, we ended up laughing at how we'd look back on that night and how our stories were so silly.
Pam realized that she was born in this century for a good reason. All the romantic notions about how great it might be to travel back in time and live like a pioneer ... no. She assured us (in quite forceful terms) that she would never speak those words again. As if to drive the point home, she casually mentioned needing to bathe to remove all the soot and fire grime from herself. When I reminded her that the water heater ran on electricity, she cried.
Thursday morning ... still no power ... the kids get ready for school and leave. Even sponge baths are miserable when the water is just barely above freezing. Later that morning, the power comes back! YAY!
When I got home that afternoon, Pam has just arrived home from school. She announced that the power was back, and actually did a happy dance. I told her I fully expected to find her soaking in a steaming tub. She assured me it was on her list. But first ... a nice hot bowl of oatmeal. I think addictions mess with your priorities.
It was nice to cook dinner in the kitchen again. I actually enjoyed it.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Change?
I've been doing quite a bit of driving around town lately. This kid here ... that kid there ... back to pick up the first one ... drop a third one off somewhere else ... etc, etc, etc.
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the McCain / Palin signs disappeared during the night of the election ... but Obama / Biden signs are *still* on display. And it seems like I'm seeing fewer and fewer McCain bumper stickers ... and more and more Obama.
Okay already. We get it. He won. Can we move on?
I am giving serious consideration to writing our president elect. He says he wants to bring change to Washington. I will take him at his word until he proves me wrong. We tried to give the president the line item veto a while back. I think it was taken away by the Supremes as soon as it was used, however.
I wasn't a big supporter of the line item veto. Why you ask? It's the wrong approach. Quite a few years ago, a man much wiser than I let me in on a great idea. He called it the single item bill. The idea is to prevent the legislature from attaching unrelated stuff (good or bad) to an existing bill. It gives the President the ability to veto each item, but it also creates accountability in both houses of the legislature. They can no longer hide behind excuses like "I voted against it because of all the bad amendments." The voting record would clearly show where each representative and each senator stands.
And *that* is a change I would dearly love to see.
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the McCain / Palin signs disappeared during the night of the election ... but Obama / Biden signs are *still* on display. And it seems like I'm seeing fewer and fewer McCain bumper stickers ... and more and more Obama.
Okay already. We get it. He won. Can we move on?
I am giving serious consideration to writing our president elect. He says he wants to bring change to Washington. I will take him at his word until he proves me wrong. We tried to give the president the line item veto a while back. I think it was taken away by the Supremes as soon as it was used, however.
I wasn't a big supporter of the line item veto. Why you ask? It's the wrong approach. Quite a few years ago, a man much wiser than I let me in on a great idea. He called it the single item bill. The idea is to prevent the legislature from attaching unrelated stuff (good or bad) to an existing bill. It gives the President the ability to veto each item, but it also creates accountability in both houses of the legislature. They can no longer hide behind excuses like "I voted against it because of all the bad amendments." The voting record would clearly show where each representative and each senator stands.
And *that* is a change I would dearly love to see.
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