Sunday, April 30, 2006

Weekend...

Well, it's 9pm and I am T-I-R-E-D.

Saturday was retrieve parental units from DC as they returned from their vacation.
Then take brother to his place in Baltimore as he had borrowed dad's truck while his was in the shop.
Today was SLEEP!
But I got up at 9am anyway. I went to Brunswick for a historical society mission that went very well. I stayed in town to visit some folks at the museum there and for the Capitol Limited to pass on its was from DC to Chicago. It went by on time at 5:03pm. Nice work.
But my work is done, things are good and all is moderately ok in the world.
Three days to a new episode of Mythbusters.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Jim, so help me, I'm starting to think I can cure a rainy day!

My enduring respect (and a prize if I'm feeling generous) if you can ID the fictional character who said the title.

Well, good news. New contractor wants to keep staff the same. Rep from said co said, "It's not broke. I don't want to or need to fix it."

Sweet. However, I implemented the evac plan now for what appears to be a false alarm. Not good. But the above was not in writing so I may yet need to evac.

Still, I have a job. Always good. Other folks I know do not or will not. :(

Now for some of my choice topics of discussion:
1. GASOLINE. Ok, that's it. We're gonna have to declare war on...hmmm...George who do we hit that can fix this? China? Then we lose all of our cheap imported goods. England? Nah, they pay $5 a litre. They're hurtin worse than us. Germany? Same deal as England. Venezuela? Not so much. Citgo is Venezuelan. Anytime you buy Citgo gas the profits go to Hugo Chavez. Remember that Red Staters, also Citgo sponsors a NASCAR team. Where's Homeland Security when you need it? Hmmmmmm?
Russia? Nope, they're cool with selling gas and not being a member of OPEC. We might want to get real buddy buddy with them.

Wait...I know...

FRANCE.

Their economy is gonna implode anyway, thanks to some short sighted students and some stubborn commies. People get used to getting fired because you're all gonna get your asses laid off in 20 years. Then Germany will buy your bankrupt country and say...Damn! We tried this the hard way THREE TIMES!!! and all we had to do was wait for you to do yourselves in. Danke Schoen. (In case you didn't notice, not a big fan of France. Bigger army than the Nazis in WW2...lasted a week against them in land combat. So much for a steadfast ally. So we bail their ass out with the ever reliable Brits. (motto: "C'mon, just TRY and invade us you little goose stepping twit.") And after we save their pitiful conquered butts they decide to horn in on the win. Puh-leeze. There's a reason why FDR called them "damn frogs."

Seriously, about the gas...buy hybrid. It's only gonna get worse. Or at least buy oil company stock to get some of your money back.

2. Trying to rob David Copperfield...magician not the Dickensian hero.
Four rocket scientists from FL tried to rob David Copperfield.
Ok, read the story and say it with me. Bad idea guys.
First who doesn't know who David Copperfield is?
Second who tries to rob a magician in the first place? Seriously. I'd like to know.

3. Tony Snow: New White House flack.
Ummm, he worked for Fox News before this. He really isn't changing jobs here people. He just doesn't have to work in the same building with Steve Doocy anymore.

4. Brett Favre decides to stay with Green Bay one more year.
YEAH! I admit it I am a Packer fan. And Brett Favre is fun to watch when he's not throwing into triple coverage. Let's get this guy a line and some healthy receivers and give him a decent year to head off into the sunset on. He deserves it. Better yet...have everyone in the NFL make a secret pact to let Green Bay into the playoffs. Just lay off enough that they make a wild card or eke out a division championship and play his last game at Lambeau. I'd get Veklempt. I'm getting Veklempt now. Someone channel Vince Lombardi and make this happen!!!

5. Wait Wait! Don't Tell Me! is coming to DC next week. Lisner Auditorium at GWU. Tickets are...get this...$60 a pop! $60!!! $60!!! People! WTF? $60?!?!?! I'll need that for gas!

6. Reading: I just finished To Dare and To Conquer

Not a bad book. Had some interesting tidbits about special forces throughout history and just what makes a special force special. Mainly the people and the objectives. Worth reading, especially as we will be using them in the war on terror a lot.

Currently I'm reading Team of Rivals So far it's very good.

Well it's late. I'm going to end this post. Perhaps there will be more on the morrow.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Fin de Semanna

Well, another weekend down the drain. I did get to watch All The President's Men. I did not get to hang out with my friends. Seems we just couldn't pull something together with other commitments. Ah well. Things should settle down soon anyway. Besides it freakin' RAINED! Bad night to be out Saturday. Probably best for us all.

I did get belated birthday presents. BONUS! I got The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes and The Iron Horse and the Windy City about railroads in my favorite metropolis...Chi-town!

Let's see...that's about all I got going on. I did the volunteer thing. That's going well. Going to try and spend some of the organization's money. Let's see how that goes.

I also interviewed on Friday with my old boss. She moved on from my old job before I did. I may have to jump ship if the new company decides not to take me on. It'll be a pay cut but it will still be a pay check.

And it looks like we're going to get a great view of a comet in may take a gander at this here.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Jacques! Jacques! Start the plane! Start the plane Jacques!

I interview with for my emergency escape plan tomorrow at 3:30pm. I am feeling conflicted. On one hand, I want to have the escape plan. On the other hand I don't want to abandon a job that I like and co-workers I like. And on the other other hand, I don't want to alienate my old boss in case I DO need the escape plan at a later date.

GAH! Stupid conscience.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

My first purloined survey:

1. Worst damage you ever took in a fight?
Well there was that time that squadron of X-Wings...Oh you mean a real fight. Nope no fights.

2. Most money you ever owed a utility company?
$98 electric bill during a damn cold winter.

3. Last time you got kicked out of a bar?
I don't drink.

4. Longest time you slept in a car?
3 hours

5. Most f'ed up nickname you've ever been given?
Hmmm...I like most of the nicknames I've been given.

6. Worst job you ever had?
My previous job on a FEMA contract. No direction from the agency and other problems.

7. Shortest job you've ever had?
Might be this current one.

8. Longest romantic relationship?
3 years, so far the best 3 years of my life.

9. Shortest romantic relationship?
4 months.

10. Food that you would eat til you puked?
Gibbles White Cheddar Cheese puffs.

11. Food that even looking at makes you puke?
Hagfish

12. What music saved your life?
Well...Glenn Miller saved my ass in Nam. Does that count? No seriously...classical. Stress relief. I can close my eyes and imagine the concert.

13. Person you miss the most in the world?
Alive: I refuse to say Gone: Pop Pop Fry

14. Worst movie you've ever seen?
Hmmm, I try to stay away from the bad ones. But I saw the original Maltese Falcon from the 1930's. Two words: TRAIN WRECK

15. Best movie you've ever seen?
The Sting. It's best the first time you see it.

16. Craziest shit you've ever done sober?
I'm pretty buttoned down. Sorry.

17. Ever almost die?
RA got me as close as I ever want to get.

18. Ever fistfight a member of the opposite sex?
No, that is ungentlemanly.

19. Best place you have ever lived?
Home right now. I can see stars and in 2002 I saw the Aurora Borealis.

25. At your poorest, were you a ramen noodle or Mac and cheeze aficionado?
Mac and Cheeze

26. Most money you have ever spent on a single meal?
$40 per person...not including tip.

27. Best gift you ever got?
I dunno. I've gotten a lot of great gifts.

28. Best pet you ever had?
Shadow. I miss her.

29. Ever run from the cops?
Nope.

30. Where were you when the ball dropped for 2006?
At Kim and Dave's

31. How did you get the idea for your profile name?
I'm a frustrated historian working for a government contractor. This brain for hire.

32. What song are you playing now, or wish you were playing?
I'm in the mood for "Clare de Lune" right now.

33. Has the death of a celebrity ever made you cry?
Jim Henson. I grew up on muppets.

34. What color underwear are you wearing?
blue with polar bears

35. Do you own an ipod?
Nein!

36. What did you do this morning?
Got up, let Duff out, let Duff in, got dressed, brushed teeth, drove to the Metro, walked to work, got my everything bagel and large coffee from the shop on the ground floor of my building, worked.

37. What does your mom do for a living?
Children's Librarian

38. Where do you work?
EPA...for now.

39. What ended your last relationship?
There wasn't love between both of us.

40. What are the last 2 digits of your phone number?
94

41. What was the last concert you attended?
BSO

42. Who was with you?
Sabrina

43. What was the last movie you watched?
The Sting

44. Who do you dislike at the moment?
the people who are screwing up my employment and the French.

45. What food do you crave right now?
I got a hankerin for an apple.

46. Did you dream last night?
Not that I recall Senator.

47. What was the last TV show you watched?
MYTHBUSTERS!!! Rock on!

48. What is your fav piece of jewelry?
The pocket watch I got from Mom and Dad for college graduation.

49. What is to the left of you?
my dresser

50. What was the last thing you ate?
ice cream

51. Who is your best friend of the opposite sex?
Sabrina

52. Who last IMed you?
Shelby

53. Are you on any medication?
Yes.

54. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
right side.

55. What color shirt are you wearing?
navy blue

56. What color is your razor?
black

57. What is your favorite frozen treat?
any ice cream with caramel and nuts.

58. how many tattoos and piercings do you have?
none

59. What's your favorite store?
Bookfinder.com

60. Are you thirsty right now?
No, thanks for asking.

61. Can you imagine yourself ever getting married?
Sigh...I used to. But now I save myself the disappointment.

62. Who's someone you haven't seen in a while and miss?
My friends. I talk to them, but I miss the group dynamic.

63. What did you do last night?
Talked to Sabrina.

64. Do you care what people think about you?
Depends on the people.

65. Have you ever done something to instigate trouble?
Yeah

66. Do you like your nose?
Yes

67. What color is your bedroom?
Blue, it used to be green.

68. When was the last time you worked out?
19...

69. What are your font colors on AIM?
black

70. Where do you live?
in a house silly.

71. Are you an aggressive driver?
Nope.

72. Who is your cell phone carrier?
Cingular

73. Do you like the person who posted this last?
Yeah, she's cool.

74. What is across the room from you?
my bed.

75. What is the thing you'd most want to change about yourself?
I would want to get rid of my RA.

76. What color is your car?
blue

77. What do you smell like right now?
I'm a guy, next question.

78. What is your favorite color?
Billiard or Forest Green

79. money or health?
Health.

80. Where was your last kiss?
Holy crap, I don't remember.

81. What are you listening to right now?:
the news.

82. Whats your favorite number?
88

83. When was the last time you smiled?
tonight watching MYTHBUSTERS!

84. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
a co-worker, we had a conference call.

85 What is your worst habit?
I can be lazy.

86 Do you drink?
Can't.

87 Do you smoke?
Hell no.

88 When was the last time, if ever, you blacked out?
When I had my knee drained.

89 Girlfriend/Boyfriend?
none.

90 Your Hair color?
Red, more auburn at the moment.

91 Eye Color?
brown

92 Do you wear contacts?:
No

93 Favorite Holiday?
Christmas!

94 Favorite Month?:
Any one with snow.

95 Have you ever cried for no reason?:
Alas yes, but I was on prednisone

96 Favorite Day of the Year?
Christmas Eve.

97 Are you too shy to ask someone out?:
Yes

98 Last advice you received?
Do what's best for you.

99 What was the highlight of your weekend?:
Easter with the fam.

100 Chocolate or Vanilla?:
Vanilla

101 What is the last text message you received?
n/a

102 What is the last text message you sent?:
n/a

103 Who was the last person to call you?
co-worker

104 What was the last sports game you watched?
O's vs Angels Easter Sunday.

105 When was the last time you slept in someone else's bed?
Technically it was when I was at the Marriott in Charleston. The bed belonged to the Marriott Corp.

106 Favorite movies
See profile

107 Favorite football Team?
Washington Redskins.

108 What were you doing before this?
posting to my blog

109 Any pets?
Duff (spoiled 11 year old dog)

110 Favorite Drink?
Coke

111 Butter, Plain or Salted popcorn?
Surprise me.

112 Dogs or cats?:
Dogs

113 Favorite flower?:
Eidelweiss

114 When was the last time you got in trouble?
I dunno, some crap at my last job. I had stopped caring.

115 Have you ever loved someone?
Yes

116 Are you still friends with people from kindergarten?
Nope

117 Have you ever fired a gun?
Nope

118 do you like to travel by plane?
Yeah, trains are better though.

119 What websites do you go to frequently?
spaceweather.com, bookfinder.com, wtop.com, baltimoresun.com, amazon.com

120 How many pillows do you sleep with?
3

121 Are you missing someone?
Yep

122 How was your day?
Mediocre

123. State your name:
Nicholas

124. age:
28

125. height:
5' 10"

126. favorite food:
A well made crab cake, broiled.

127. favorite color:
See previous iteration of this question.

128. current profession:
Records Management Specialist

129. where are you right now, physically?
In my room.

130. if you are listening to music, what is it? If not, what's the last song you heard?
Right now classical since the radio stations here suck.

131. what are you wearing?
T-shirt and pajama bottoms.

132. Given that straight in front of you = 12 o'clock, name an object at:
3 o'clock: dresser
9 o'clock: computer desk

133. Describe the wall covering (paint/wallpaper) of the room you're in:
blue paint on dryall.

134. Does your chair squeak?
Yep

135. Are you currently drinking/eating? if so, what?
No

136. Is your desk/working surface clean or messy?
Messy as all get out.

137. Aside from yourself, is there an animal in the room?
Nope

138. Did the implication made in question 138 offend you in any way?
I'm getting out my old TA red pen for this. "Your question makes no sense in the current context. Either delete or move to a point in the paper where it makes sense."

139. If you are listening to music, hit pause for a second. Sit quietly, without typing or doing anything.
TV in the living room, computer fan

140. In general terms, how are you feeling today?
Good, but a bit achy.

141. Can you see a window (the outside kind, not the computer kind) from where you're sitting?
Yes

142. Name 3 words to describe yourself:
smart, goofy, boring

143. Name 3 words you think other people would use to describe you:
listener, nerdish, wierd

144. What do you do for fun when you're not on myspace?
I read.

145. Wallflower or Party Animal?
Wallflower

146. Describe your perfect date (the events, not the person):
I'll let you know when I have it.

147. Describe your perfect evening alone:
Writing a historical monograph listening to Best of the Big Bands with Kent Jackson on WYPR.

148. For each of the following sets of 4 words, put a B by the one that BEST describes you and an L by the one that LEAST describes you:


a. EXPRESSIVE
COMPLIANT B
FORCEFUL L
RESTRAINED

b. CHARMING
POSITIVE B
LENIENT
EXACTING L

c. RESERVED L
OUTSPOKEN B
STRICT
ELOQUENT

d. HIGH-SPIRITED
TALKATIVE
GOOD-NATURED B
CONSERVATIVE L

e. TIMID
DEMANDING
PATIENT B
CAPTIVATING L


149. Clear your mind. Now type the first single word that comes to mind when you hear the following words:

a. angel : halo
b. guilty : verdict
c. pants : belt
d. dolphin : flipper
e. naked : truth
f. live : forgive
g. good : great
h. pasta : sauce
i. birth : life


150. What do you consider your best quality? I have a high tolerance for annoyance.

151. What do you consider your worst quality? When my temper does go...it goes.

Remember that scene...

in Raiders of the Lost Ark?

The part where Indy has the idol in his hands has jumped the chasm walked past an impaled Alfred Molina (pre Doc Ock) and is almost home free. And he sees that boulder coming down the ram towards him?

Just got the word on the contract...the boulder is coming. Now will new uber company want to hire me on?
I haven't heard. But I have an interview with my old boss who works somewhere else now on Friday.

This is why I have this rule about jobs; "Don't burn the bridge, you never know when you'll have to use it again."

Surprisingly my supervisor/co-worker is taking this worse than I. She's worried about the rest of us, I'm rather sang-froid about it. We're the modern equivalent of bureaucratic privateers. Our services go to the highest bidder stability is not a given. Also this situation going to crap is NOTHING compared to what happened to me from 1999-2000, or as I like to call it "My crappiest 18 months." As they say, the best laid plans of mice and men...

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Will tragedy strike our intrepid hero?

Rumors afoot about changes with the contract. Headhunters are out. A decision has to be made by May.

So naturally I'm freaking out. I may wind up working for someone else on this job or I may have to go with plan B which pays less but still pays.

Welcome to the wild wooly world of contracting.

Monday, April 17, 2006

A new week...

Or, five days to kill until the weekend.

Actually it's going to be a busy week. Two meetings at work, servers getting migrated to the new building at Potomac Yard. All sorts of things that can go awry.

Add to that: one emissions test tomorrow or Wednesday morning or evening and you've got a whole lotta fun.

Well, not really. Man what a boring week. Nothing exciting like The Wacky Neighbor's Actuarial Exam (You're a braver man than I Gunga Din.) Of course having roomed with TWN in college I know that TWN really likes math, like I really like history. However his major translated into a good job applying his knowledge. I am managing records.

But the real treat hits Saturday when I do my volunteer thing. That's always nice. And I'll try and log some time with my old movies. I think All the President's Men needs to be a movie of the weekend...hmmm what else to watch. Something lighter than politics, I already saw The Sting this weekend. Hmmm...perhaps Henry V. Yeah, I gotta strange idea of what constitutes light viewing. Of course there's also Rio Bravo. That's always a good one.
I dunno. It's late. I've taken my Rheumatoid Arthritis meds so I'm getting tired and Duff is fast asleep on my bed. I guess it's time to wrap this up and carry on tomorrow.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

On this day...

April 15, 1865.

Washington, DC
Ford's Theater
Presidential Box...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln

"Now he belongs to the ages." - Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War

Plan for the weekend...

Alrighty, second real post. This weekend is of course EASTER! Which means that The Ten Commandments will be on TV. Nothing more fun that watching Chuck Heston and Yul Brenner play off one another. They do another good job in "The Buccaneer" with Brenner as Jean Laffite and Chuck as General Andrew Jackson. When is that coming out on DVD?

Anyway, tomorrow is take the car to get its oil changed, go to breakfast with the fam, thence to hopefully pick up said car and run errands as necessary.

Tomorrow night, hopefully some more time to log with "The British War Collection" DVD set I got from Amazon.com. So far I've watched "The Cruel Sea" which is a damn fine movie! and "The Dam Busters" that I remember from a long time ago when old movies were on broadcast TV on weekends and you didn't have to pay for TCM to get them.

Sunday is Easter dinners; one here, one at Grandma's. Then hopefully a new Family Guy and then to bed. Sometime during this weekend I've also got some work to do for my volunteer job, but more on that as things coalesce.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Oh to be Donald Rumsfeld...

I figured for my first post I'd go with something topical...What on earth does Donald Rumsfeld have on the President? Seriously, the guy was hired to run a Missile Defense oriented Department of Defense, and that's why Meyers was chosen as Chairman of the JCS, that was going to be the signature program. Then 9/11 hits and we've got all these BMD people who are going to be running the show and all of a sudden the primary mission becomes counter-terrorism Special Operations. So now Meyers is gone, a Marine is Chairman of the JCS (OO-RAH!) and we're bogged down in two middle eastern countries and looking warily at a third who's saying, "We're getting the bomb! Rock on!" He's got former subordinates saying he should go, he's got Abu Graib and I'm still waiting on this Exit Strategy that is past due!!! So Rummy, if you're not gonna resign or get yourself fired, at least publish the evidence you got on W when you retire.

Well, better late than never...

I finally have knuckled under to the blogging juggernaut. Resistance is futile, we are bloggers, etc.

Well, tonight I'm just going to get things all set up and spread the word to my gang of friends. More as time permits...