wardlejew

When you reward irresponsible people, you create more of them. When you punish responsible people, you create fewer of them.

Why would anyone want to accept responsibility?

We believe what we want to believe!  We want to keep believing what we do believe!  Sometimes, this clouds are judgment!

Last week I was in Island Park for my wife's family reunion.  It was so nice to be out and away from civilization for a little bit.  However, coming back to work today is extra hard!  I'm looking forward to retirement.  It is only what? 35 years away?  More years than I've been alive.  I think I can. I think I can. =)

I wrote the following to a friend as a reply to his email earlier today.

I'm feeling a little depressed economically this week(Stimulus bill signed, Foreclosure plan announced today, Promises to auto industry, plans for trillions more to go to banking industry).   I don't have a lot, but what I have, I have worked hard for.  I own 30% of my home in 5 years.  I don't think many people can say that on there first home. It is a modest home.  I've paid extra to my mortgage/equity line every month.  I saved up for a year to put extra money towards my house when I bought it.  I use the TV we had 5 years before we bought the home.  I have never bought a "New" car.  I worked hard to get here.  Now, I have to start paying for people that have troubled loans.  why?  Shouldn't I have the choice to donate or not.  I'm being robbed by those who have sworn to protect me.  Protect me!  Not take from me to distribute how they see fit,  to take from those who want to keep what they worked so hard for. I have the inclination to stop paying my mortgage, and buying extravagantly.  That is what my so-called government wants me to do!! spend!!!  They will make sure I get away with not paying my mortgage. I will be taken care of.  Heck I should stop working too.  they will give me all the health care, unemployment I need.  I should stop working so hard for myself, when I can get "Charity" from society. 

Sigh!!!  Where did freedom go!!!

Some may say I feel this way because I'm not the one in trouble.  I have a job, and I can make my payments.  I haven't always been there.  AT one time the company I worked for went out of business.  I worked a few cruddy temp jobs to bring in some money.  I had some money in the bank so I knew my small family would be okay a few months (this means I wasn't living beyond my means).  I didn't expect government to provide for me.  I went out and did what I had to.  What is worth having is worth fighting(working hard) for.  No, life isn't fair.  I've had my share of that too. 

Again, Sigh!!!

I'm not a huge Glenn Beck fan.  I'm not big on looking for gloom and doom in everything, but a friend sent me this link, and I found this video and chart shocking.

www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/20816/

I thought Obama said he was being president for his kids.  Did he mean he was doing it so his kids could pay off his debts.

900 billion dollars and growing!!!!

Miscellaneous items:

1:  I don't watch much TV.  I really don't.  I rent Smallville and Star Trek from Netflix.  I borrow Heroes from a friend.  My wife bought me The Cosby Show for Christmas.   I don't even watch that much sports, and I love sports.  The other night, I was checking out Hulu.com for some old shows I could watch.  I came across "Lie To Me".  It peaked my interest.  I had heard nothing about it before, except for maybe one commercial.  I loved the pilot show.  It was light, fun, entertaining, and interesting.  I watched the next episode with the Mrs. next week.  Still fun and entertaining.   I recommend giving it  a try.  Maybe I enjoy it because I haven't  watched all the the crime investigation shows the past few years .  Tim Roth's character cracks is fantastic in my opinion.  He is carrying the show right now.

2:  Hulu.com is great.  One problem I have with TV is a) commercials, b) scheduling it into my life c) i don't like to watch show out of sequence (I'm into the whole story arc thing).  Lie To Me is a new show and there has only been two episodes, and I watched both episodes a day or two after the original running, and I watched them after 10:00 pm when I actually had some free time to myself.  One time I had the option to view a long commercial and then watch the rest of the show uninterrupted.  Fantastic! I get something to snack on and come back in time to not miss a thing, and have no delays.

3:  Work.  The boss is trying to get our company's (www.truckmasterlogistics.com/) ranking on google higher.  We really need to get higher up in the search pages.  Currently we our at about 5.  I'm trying to figure out what I can do to help out in my little world.

I think I'm addicted.

I have been listening to The Dark Knight score since ehowton informed me about it.  I love it.  I have started listening and haven't stopped since.  Today, I switched over to Excelsior, but when "Will is Everything" came up, I just wanted to switch back to The Dark Knight.

I don't know what it is that has captivated me.  I think there may be some subliminal messaging going on that has me addicted.  What a great score.  Each listen I find something new.  I find this amazing because upon first listen, you could almost think it is all the same except for the Joker static sounds.  I feel the score captured the movie perfectly and also stands on its own very nicely.

As for the movie.  I loved it.  I have seen it twice.  Both were matinées, but I would have been willing to spend the full price.  However, this way I can see it again, if I can convince the Mrs. it is worth it.  I love the story, and the pacing.  The pacing is what I've enjoyed most about the  new adaption of the Batman franchise.  So many great movies still have dull, trudge through the dialog parts, but I don't find that the case with the batman movies.  I'll not ruin the plot for those who have not seen it yet.  I can't wait to own this one on DVD!  I look forward to the next movie.

http://swashbuckler332.livejournal.com/607848.html

Excelsior! is my favorite mix to date.  I have given this mix a spin many, many times already.  I love the movie scores that motivate me to think I "Can Do!"    There is very little not to love on this cd.  The first track Main Title from Zulu sets the tone. Wake up and get moving!  Then anticipation begins, starting with Combat Drop, and continues to build until you drop into Becoming Jerome & God’s Hands from Gattaca, which will set your feet in motion.  The journey is fun too!

Suddenly we Jump(,The) into a different tone until Will Is Everything and Preparations helps us reflect on what it takes to "Get it done."  Now we lighlty start down On the Road and continue The Training until we takeoff in Building the Crate.  If you aren't feeling good about yourself by the end of this piece, well, you one messed up chicken. (I don't know what they are, but I love the kazoo sounds in the middle of this track) 

The next set of tracks provide a wide range of approaches to the "Can Do" theme.  The Buffalo Hunt will provide the epic feel, but The Construction is the high point of the set.  The beginning swirling melody will simply pick you up.

One piece in this mix pulls me in no matter what I'm doing, no matter where I am.  I have to turn the volume up and set myself at ease.  I am saddened when the track suddenly ends with the mix into the next track, because I want that emotion to continue to build.   I imagine this was a hard track to decide what to follow it up with.  I usually hit back a few times before moving on from this one.  Yes, St. Crispin’s Day is my favorite!  I guess I have a thing for "swirling" melodies"  I absolutely love how this track builds and builds on the emotional level.  I'm ready, send me to battle!!

The rest of the CD carries on at a high level until the ending Rocketeer to the Rescue, which is another of my favorites on the CD.  The last track is a great wrap for Excelsior!, neither too much, nor too little.  Again, this is a very enjoyable and fun CD.  The progress through the CD is great.  Well done swashbuckler332!

My highlight tracks: 5,8,16,20,26

The journey begins.  After a Postal service mishap, and a couple of weeks anxiously waiting,  THE PACKAGE ARRIVED.  swashbuckler332 goods arrived at my home on Friday.  Thank you so much swashbuckler332!!  My ears have been treated to swashbuckler332's incredible mixes since I opened the package.  The timing ended up being impeccable.  I spent four hours on the road the next day and will be making another longer road trip this weekend.  While the minivan is not my favorite listening post, it was nice to have new arrangements to listen to while driving. 

My drive to work this morning was my first,  (well second chance, I spent an hour listening to Redwoods at home with my wife Friday night), to start the more critical listening.  I was not upset that 90% of the stoplights where red today!    For  this post I'll point out the first thing I've noticed, or should say haven't noticed.  The transitions are so smooth I don't even know they are happening until I'm 30 seconds into the next track hearing a theme from a different movie.  I know that is not an easy task.  I'm so looking forward to listening to everything. 

More to come I'm sure...

Thoughts spawned from http://ehowton.livejournal.com/192103.html

Living Room: "(kids) place to stand between you and your television"
Garage: Place that serves its actual purpose.  Store vehicles.
Kitchen: Place for cheerios on the floor.
Computer/Office Room:  Place to mimic dad on the computer, but with the volume louder playing annoying kids game's music.  Place to build towers out of couch cushions and pillows between the door and the computer of course.
Bedroom: Place for 3AM notifications of bad dreams
Play room/Kids room: Place to store toys when not playing with them. 
Hallway/Walkway: Greatest race car location for all 600 pixar/hotwheel cars.
Laundry Room: Place for every miscellaneous item in the house.
Bathroom: Sanctuary!

I need a basement!

A man who concedes to nothing, knows nothing.

We tend to judge others by their actions, while judging ourselves by our intentions.

To some who will find this interesting and are probably already in the know.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071211/ap_on_re_us/word_of_the_year

w00t!

I know it is lame, but it is funny too.  And my boys loved it!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1170104382

if you have a problem with it scrooge yourself : http://www.scroogeyourself.com/

For 40-50 minutes of my work week, I travel to and from work.  I don't mind the drive at all except when the roads are solid ice and people are flying by and sliding off the road in front of me.  Here are the speed limits I travel everyday. 
25(residential) 
45(future city commercial)
40(city main streets)
60(rural highway)
75(rural Interstate)
45(Commercial)
35(City main street)
25(side street)

I drive from my hometown to a smaller town 10 miles away for work.  I drive a Chevy Malibu, and I love my car. 


Didn't that line sound like something somebody would say in a recovering addict commercial. Anyway, my Malibu is white, unlike this stock photo.

I'm not a car guy so I can't give you all the details.
Some Cool Features

1. It has a v6 in it and I will never drive a v4 again.  I love being able to push the pedal down and jet onto the freeway in front of the semi and all the traffic behind it. The handling is smooth too.
2. The last couple weeks while driving to work I've thought to myself, "It would be cool if a car realized the speed changes and adjusted the stereo volume automatically."  I guess my subconscious noticed that my car was already doing this and triggered the thought.  I started noticing that my car was actually doing this.  Cool!  It isn't perfect but pretty close.  I love having 25 minutes to listen to music. My listening varies from Soundtracks to Josh Groban, Peter Cetera, more soundtracks.  I love the time I have to listen.  It is great when heading home to help me clear my head from the work day.  Still, how cool is it that my car is smart enough to adjust the volume so I don't have to.
3. Auto lights.  I love this feature.  I never think about turning my car lights on anymore.  The only downfall to this is when I get in the family van and forget to turn the lights on... 
4. Dash Controls. I like how all the cruise control/dash panel settings are set up.  I love the info menus too. 

Maybe I'm just slow coming into the 21st century, and these things are not new to everybody else.  Or maybe it was the v4 with no stereo that I drove for a year while my wife drove this car.  Either way, I love my little car.  It is fun to drive around.  I'm glad my wife talked me out of the cheaper, bigger, older Impala.   

One of my favorite parts of the day happens right before I go to bed each night.  I've made it a matter of routine to check on my boys in their bedroom.  The kids are usually always asleep and never now I check on them. The other night I went in to check on them.  My oldest is on the top bunk, so I can't quite give him a kiss on the forehead anymore, unless he is right on the edge.  My middle boy is in the bottom bunk.  I sat next to him and made sure he wasn't too hot.  For some odd reason he wanted to wear his one piece winter pajamas; the ones with the zipper from the toes to the neck.  I gave my boy a little hug and said "I love you little bud."  I started getting out of bed and I heard a little sleepy whisper "I love you."  You can imagine the emotions.

Children are incredible.  This world is all about selfishness and money these days, but I find that the sacrifices I made to be married and raise kids are nothing compared to the rewards for doing so.  And yes, it takes a lot of hard work to resit the temptation to take care of el numero uno first.

As another note.  When I put them to bed, not when I'm checking on them, and leave the room, I have to go through a series of good night messages.  Here is the list of phrases typically heard from my boys.

1. Good night
2. Good night alligator dad. (comes from see you later alligator, converted to this by a child's mind)  
3. Sweat Dreams
4. Pleasant Dreams
5. Have a good sleep
6. See you at breakfast.
7. I hope you have a Good night
8. Good night dad
9. Ok (usually an echo of me saying Ok to them first)
   
10. I love you
11. Good night

No, not one of these per night.  Every single one every night, and each boy wants to be the last to say something, so I have hear each item in the list four or five times.  I say Good Night about 20 times before I can leave the room. 

Track 5 "Up is Down" is my favorite.  Very silly and disappointing part of the movie though.  I guess the track is bigger than the scene so the felt they needed to keep it quite in the move. 
Track 10 "What Shall We Die For"   With a name like that, you better not fail, and this track doesn't.  Starts off slow and grows into the motivational title it claims.  Leads very nicely into the next track.
Track 8 "Parlay" is next on my list.  I really like how this track builds and builds as it goes.

I don't think I can order them in any order past this point.

Track 1 "Hoist the Colors" is a fun lead in to the soundtrack.  Love the dark tone it sets with the voices.
Track 11 "I Don't Think Now is the Best Time" is the longest track and thus has some good moments and some moments where you just keep listening.
Track 12 "One Day" is a nice mix of motivational and reflective themes.

Overall, I've really, really enjoyed this score, which probably didn't help my opinion of the movie because I had a different idea of what the movie would be than what it ended up being.  The score is one of my new favorites.  Listen to it a lot during my commutes.

Track 13 "Drink Up Me Hearties"!

Went to Pirates of the Caribbean At Worlds End last weekend.  I went in to the movie knowing I only had to pay $2 and with low expectations.  Wow!  I overpaid and my expectations were not met.  Very disappointing what they have done to the Pirates.   I guess it could be say they are pirates of the box office.  All they wanted was more money from us.  So glad I didn't pay 7.50 for the ticket price.  I have been listening to the Soundtrack for some time now.  I really like the soundtrack, but here is the kicker.  My favorite part of the soundtrack was almost muted in the movie.  What is up with that.  Other parts of the soundtrack that I liked were buried in the movie too.  They weren't buried by dialog or sound effects either.  I just didn't get it.  Hmm, that about sums up the movie.  I didn't get it.  Why doesn't a ship with 3 rows of cannons on each side of the ship fire a single shot, while it is being torn apart.  ARRGGHHH!!!

I go to to a Sizzler type restaurant with my good friend from high school.  He orders first and gets the last steak, so I have to spend $4 dollars more than the  price of the steak on some chicken that fell on the floor.  After sitting at a booth to wait for food, he sees someone he knows and goes to talk them.  Meanwhile, three girls decide to sit in the same booth I've been abandoned to.  They are trying to impress some boy that is sitting in the next booth over.  One girl gets her feelings hurt when one of the other girls gets his interest, so I say something nice and comforting like he isn't worth it.  Next thing I know, I'm  showing my wedding ring to this girl over and over to remind her I'm a married man. Meanwhile, my "friend", gets his food 10 minutes before me.  He has decided to not come back to the booth to eat, forgetting who he come to eat with.  My food finally comes, and it is horrible, plus there is very little of it. Finally, when it is time to leave, my friend has to use the restroom, and I'm waiting outside in a dark alley for 15 minutes, still flashing my ring every other minute.

I don't get this dream.  Something must have annoyed me.

Watched 2001 Space odyssey.   Well I should say i watched it in fast forward mode until there was dialog.  I didn't miss anything, but I did get to bed an hour earlier.  I gave the movie 1 star out of 5.  I guess I didn't get it.  I understand that it is supposed to be thought provoking, but wow!  I had too much time to think, so I just hit the fastforward button. 

Thought:  It is it really thought provoking when it doesn't try to make any point at all?