July 31, 2004

Another moth on the thistle...

Posted at 3:15 PM (EST)

July 30, 2004

Look at this really cool moth I found today. Hannah said it looks like he's wearing a Hawaiian shirt. I never saw one like this before.

Posted at 12:15 PM (EST)

July 29, 2004

Going to work... again.....

But I got to thinking...

For the past 25 years, I have worked in the same general area, an average of 30 miles from the area in which I have lived.

So, figuring that I have worked an average of 250 days per year for 25 years, and driven an average of 60 miles round trip per day, the grand total of miles I have driven in the last 25 years (just for work) comes out to 375,000 miles!

Figuring on a reasonable average of 30 miles per gallon for gas mileage on my vehicles over the years, I have consumed 12,500 gallons of gas in driving to and from work. That translates into a lot of money!

If I had kept driving straight for those 375,000 miles, I could have driven completely around the world just over 15 times! Just think of all the sights I could have seen and the people I could have met!

If I had decided to drive to the moon, I could have made it there and just about 3/4 of the way back! With enough velocity, I could have coasted the last 55,000 or so miles.

Or... I could have driven to the moon and encircled the entire place 15 times and then just sat down and enjoyed the view.

If I had decided to drive to Mars, at the rate of 375,000 miles every 25 years, it would have taken me 9,333 and 1/4 years. Provided my car could have lasted over the journey and I had another 25 years to live and drive, I could have then traveled completely around Mars 28 and 1/4 times.

However... necessity demands that I continue driving the same worn out path to and from work... over and over... year after year.

Necessity is the executioner of so much exploration and discovery.

Posted at 10:30 AM (EST)

July 28, 2004

Going to work... blecccccch.....

Posted at 12:25 PM (EST)

July 26, 2004

Posted at 9:05 PM (EST)

July 25, 2004

Posted at 2:05 PM (EST)

July 21, 2004

I saw this girl working on the boardwalk at Seaside Heights last night. My first thought was, "Man! What a pretty girl!" My second thought was, "Hey! She looks like Ferris Bueller's girlfriend!" Doesn't she look like Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara in real life)?

I'm moving to Seaside!

Posted at 12:25 PM (EST)

July 19, 2004

Posted at 5:30 PM (EST)

July 14, 2004

Some recent pics from hanging out with my kids and my cousins...

Posted at 12:00 PM (EST)

July 13, 2004

One thorough satisfaction for me is the enjoyment of getting new drum equipment or supplies. Today my shipment of drumheads and sticks arrived. I couldn't wait to get home from work today to give the drumset some TLC. I take pleasure in taking the drums apart, cleaning them up, replacing the well-worn heads. The scents of the drum polish and the wooden drum shells conjure up so many memories of past drumming days. To some, unscrewing 50 plus lugs, removing all the rims, cleaning all the chrome hardware, changing the heads and putting it all back together might sound like tedious work. To me, it is a pleasure on par with a good haircut, clean shave, and all the other aspects of good grooming - refreshing and good for one's self-esteem.

The maintenance was also necessary. I have an upcoming opportunity to play at a nearby club as part of the host band for an open mic night. There's a good possibility that I could have the position on a permanent weekly basis. Cool! So, the drumset and I better both be looking our best to make a good first impression.

Posted at 10:15 PM (EST)

July 4, 2004

Happy Independence Day...

There is nothing like the right to live in freedom.

Yet, I fear that we have lost some of our freedom in America. We've lost some of our voice. We've allowed them to silence us. We've allowed the rich and the power-hungry to use us. They have become fat at our expense. And they have lowered our dignity in the eyes of the whole world in the process.

Hopefully, in November, we can start to change that.

Posted at 12:30 PM (EST)

July 3, 2004

Mmmm... Funnel Cake...

Posted at 11:00 PM (EST)