Picture of the day!

First, click the picture above to get a good look. Then come back. For a random shot, there's a lot I like here - the food in focus up front, the details I was able to capture, katie's face in the background, and the cup to frame it. This was a shot for a Mexican food review at LAV, but never got used.

I'm under 210lbs for the first time in a while. Something's working, and cutting out most dairy is probably a factor.

I'm still sick. Last night around 8pm I got the sneezies, and they haven't left yet. I don't feel that bad, but I'm congested, a little weak, and generally a bit blah. Lets hope the drugs do their stuff and I'm heading over the hump of this thing.

To chime in with what lots of liberal bloggers, media pundits, and friends are saying, the speeches this year at the Democratic National Convention have been great - they really show everything the Democrats can be, and why we should vote for them. Kerry's speech yesterday was especially strong - where was this Kerry in '04?

Katie saw the neighborhood kids playing outside yesterday, and I became a proud parent - Katie is amazingly patient with other children, especially younger ones, and is a great sharer. She wants to play, and is happy to wait a few moments while the other kids get going. She also teaches amazingly well. Of course, this attitude leads to other kids trusting her, and she'll use this to lead them to do what she wants - my daughter, the cute dictator.

I predict two babies in the next week from the People I Know Who Are Pregnant pool. I think that's a pretty safe bet.

It's funny - Burning Man is happening right now, but if Tori wasn't there, I don't think I would have remembered, as I haven't heard about it anywhere else this year. It seems like it was all over the place in 2006 and 2007.

That's today's update. Update me with fine stories of your life!

Picture of the day!

Chris.

I'm not at work - I'm fighting off a cold Katie's had all week. It's not that bad, but enough to tire me out if I do too much, so I figured I might as well just take a day.

Last week, Netflix had some issues with shipping. I didn't think much of it until yesterday, when I realized that I never got my last DVD. Last night, I got an email thanking me for RETURNING that DVD, and that they're sending the next one on the queue today. Very strange.

No check today. Thanks, credit, for the advance!

That's all. What up?

Picture of the day!

The new desktop background on my laptop.

The laptop is up and running, fully functional. For the geeks among you, many Sony Vaios have a Atheros wireless card built in, and the default Ubuntu 8.04 installation recognizes it, installs some proprietary drivers, but can't use it correctly. I dug around considerably yesterday until finding this thread (specifically this post), which solved all of my problems. Thanks, large Ubuntu user base!

Other news yesterday that I forgot to share: I once again have front row tickets to see Meat Loaf - this time at Pechanga. I'm pretty sure there are still seats left, if you're interested. I've had front row tickets for him before, but he canceled that show and the other in the area I was going to attend. Let's hope that doesn't happen again - there's a very good chance this'll be his last tour ever.

So the cash I won 2 1/2 weeks ago has yet to arrive. I called today to find out that while I was told I'd have my money "in a week" or so, it could be another week from now. I'm not hurting or anything, it just kinda sucks waiting. I'm also finding out who doesn't read my website regularly - they're the ones still very surprised by the news =)

Anything happening for Labor day? We've suddenly become free. Happy day!

Picture of the day!

Some of my legos. My collection is much larger than this, but some things are built, etc. and not in this picture. As soon as my daughter is old enough not to eat and lose them, we'll break out the good stuff.

You know you've had a good weekend when you need a day at work to recover. We had Colleen in town Thursday (and this morning), fun bar times and too much beer on Saturday, all sorts of people over for even more beer on Sunday, and lots of fun all around.

If you've sent me a text message in the last week or so, it's likely I didn't get it - for whatever reason this has been a text-heavy weekend, but I didn't know it until I started hearing from friends wondering why I wasn't responding. I'm hoping to get that fixed today.

In other technical news, I picked up a new laptop Saturday - the Sony Vaio PCG 7113L, on sale at Fry's, refurbished, for $499. As soon as I find a site with specs I'll link, but it's shiny, pretty, has lots of ports, and blows my other older computers out of the water. I'm planning on never using the Vista that's installed with it (shooting to get a refund for it, but dunno that works in real life), and using Ubuntu. Should be interesting.

I'm pretty sure I had more, but I can't recall what right now. What's new?

Picture of the day!

Yosemite. Click to see the dude fly fishing in the creek there.

Got to see Colleen last night (and this morning, as she borrowed our couch). She's one of those friends who we really never need to do much catching up together, we just hop right back in like friends, even though we only see each other once or twice a year.

Tired today - Went to bed too late, got up too early, and the baby decided to wake up the neighborhood at 5:30am. Such is life. Oddly enough, I feel pretty on top of things.

Cut out all dairy for the last 24 hours, and the rash part of my skin condition cleared up. Coincidence? Perhaps.

Meat Loaf, how come your music is so awesome?

It's a weekend of ladies and beer. Could it get any better? What's in store for you?

Picture of the day!

Melancholy trailer is melancholy.

Read Evil and Awesome (but mostly awesome). You'll laugh like I did.

So the computer that died - well, its display, anyway - is back alive after a beating from my daughter. It's come back to life a few times before, so I knew the screen wasn't permanently damaged, but it's weird that a setting change would completely black out the screen (except for the faintest outlines, just like when your backlight goes out). We'll see if it keeps on keepin' on.

It's new phone book day at home! What a useless tome.

It also appears to be bug bite and skin irritation day. That's nice.

Did any of you borrow the DVD of "Sneakers" from me a few years ago? It's not in its case at home (and hasn't been for a while, but I was just now thinking about it). Also, assuming you're a thief and have no morals, that's an easy way to get a hold of DVDs - just take them from people's houses, but leave the cases. They won't notice until they go to watch it (or may never notice - how many DVDs do you own that you haven't touched/opened in the last 2 years?)

Almost the end of the week. What's happening?

Picture of the day!

Katie in her toybox. She likes us to close the lid on her, then she pops out and laughs. Does the same with other boxes too. Strange child.

From the "WTF?" dept: Corporal punishment seen rife in U.S. schools -- I had no idea corporal punishment was still allowed. The story doesn't say for sure, but it seems to imply this is in public schools. What the fuck, people? What is WRONG with you? STOP HURTING CHILDREN.

From the Liberal Atheist Vegetarian Blog today -- Avila’s El Ranchito — Vegetarian Unfriendly.

I have a busy weekend, starting tomorrow. Colleen is coming into town for a visit Thursday, I'm going out with a work friend Saturday night, and we're doing beer appreciation at my place Sunday. Good times!

I got a book in the mail today at work -- a pre-release edition of a social justice photojournalism book. Someone out there thinks I'm a journalist or something.

Nice day out there, go enjoy it! What's happening?

Picture of the day!

Katie, making pizza.

I've made arrangements to attend the 2008 Atheist Alliance International Convention. It's in Long Beach, so I don't even need to get a hotel or travel. We'll be there with a table for Orange County Atheists.

I'm hungry.

Still need a used laptop. Still need your help finding it.

For whatever reason, I'm easily annoyed today. I'm still relaxed, but morons abound.

Comments have dropped since my big money news. What's happening with you?

Picture of the day!

A very hairy me, setting up for Halloween 2002.

I may be coming down with a little cold - I'm a bit gunky. There have been things going around, so it's not unexpected, but how's about we all keep healthy, eh?

We have wild parrots where I live in Santa Ana - several hundred, usually flying 2 to 10 at a time, typically around sunset. Lately though, they've been all-out fighting with the crows, very loudly, in the morning, including today. This isn't "fly around each other and squawk" fighting, this is "both at the top of the same tree pecking and scratching each other". How about you all shut the hell up when a man's trying to sleep?

Are there any "good" used computer/laptop dealers in OC? A Google search turned up nothing I'd trust. Ideally I'd like a place that has used/refurbished machines with some sort of warranty. Any such place out there?

No check yet. It'll either be today or next Monday, methinks.

What's up?

Picture of the day!

Marek, laughing at his bouncer duties, I guess.

Feelin' fine this morning. Got up on time, had a good walk, made some great stuffed French Toast for breakfast, and now it's on to work.

From the LAV -- Trinity Broadcasting’s massive home portfolio. Share and enjoy.

I'm starting to get noticed that my check card, which I use for a lot of online automatic payments, is expiring this month. Not an issue, until I need to go manually change it at every site I signed up for 4 or 5 years back.

It's time for a beer tasting party. My place. Ten to twelve summer style beers. Date and time to be announced.

Lots of spam here recently - if you see any, let me know. Or, just comment because you're awesome. Have a fantastic weekend!

Picture of the day!

Jesus in Yosemite.

Here come the Christian SWAT teams! Read more at the LAV.

Following up on yesterday's picture question, it seems the party took place in August/September of 2003, judging by the age of now 5-year-old Luke as an infant. I'll dig through my old emails - for whatever reason, I didn't use Evite for that one. It's also neat seeing who's reading - I should ask questions specific to people more often!

Orange County Atheists meets tonight. Stop by!

Rumor has it that money comes Monday. I actually went to Costco yesterday and didn't find much to spend on - it's tough when you don't buy new electronics or anything from China. I am looking for a new laptop or small portable type of computer (used, of course), so if you've got leads, let me know.

That's that. What's up?

Picture of the day!

Poker party at my place. This whole set is marked as being taken December 21, 2005 - Impossible, since I didn't live in that apartment then, and there's no xmas decorations up. I lived in Orange from July 2003 until September 2004. Anyone remember when this happened?

I'm gonna do one of these with my new-found winnings. I predict good times.

Got my 1.4 miles in this morning, but I think I need to start something at night - I don't feel like I'm doing enough for myself.

There's been so much exciting news this week that I think I'm spent. What you got for me?

Picture of the day!

Halloween 2005 setup. Click to see some neat light effects.

I'm feeling pretty good today. Read the post below this one if you didn't read it yesterday. Right now we're thinking a new (used) computer, blinds for the house, a catered party, and possibly some other things with the fun 10%. Other thoughts? I could totally afford all this cheese.

If you enjoy internet memes and up-and-coming presidential hopefuls, you'll surely enjoy the Barackroll.

You know what's tasty? That frosting they use on ice cream cakes.

I walked 1.4 miles this morning, and I'm generally cutting back on calories. I gotta step it up a gear if I want to make my goal.

I'm bored. Talk to me!

I did not win a house.

Last month, I bought one raffle ticket to the Irvine Public Schools Foundation 2008 House Raffle. At the time I figured the odds were pretty good, especially since fewer than 2/3 the maximum number of tickets had been sold. I imagined how awesome it'd be to get the house (or more likely, the $600,000 cash instead) - but returning from the wedding on Saturday after the drawing I saw that the house went to single mom in Irvine, so I thought "Oh well, that's that". I did scan through the primary list of winners posted on our website and didn't see my name, and almost stopped reading until I saw there was a second list of the Big 7 Winners. And there, down at the bottom, was "$25,000 cash: Michael Doss".

In addition to being happy and shocked, there was some doubt - there are several people with my name in Orange County. It absolutely could have been one of those who won, so I didn't want to get my hopes up. Right after reading my name I got a call from a reporter here who saw it too, and wanted to know if I'd gotten a ticket. He was also able to tell me that while it wasn't published online, he knew from our reporter on the scene that the winning Michael Doss had been from Santa Ana. That bumped my confidence up quite a bit, but I still wondered. This was all Saturday night, so I knew I wouldn't be able to get an answer until Monday.

It's very strange not being able to confirm that you won a significant amount of money. Finally this morning I get a call returned to me, saying yes, it was indeed me who won. Oddly enough, late in the afternoon and after having signed paperwork, I'm still nervous that there's been a mistake. I guess that's normal though for folks who've won. So while it's not a house, it is $25,000 - 10% off the top to charity, 10% off the top for crazy fun, and the rest to debt. Thanks, Irvine Public Schools Foundation!

Picture of the day!

Yosemite.

Had a fantastic trip up north - the drive both ways was great, California is a beautiful place, and I got to see a bunch of friends. Amy and Yony's wedding was also fantastic, and totally worth another 4 hours on the road. Some trip highlights:

- The mini-sunburn I got sitting in the direct sun at the wedding went away with no problems.

- I hit all of my favorite Santa Cruz dining locations - Zachary's, Saturn, Pizza My Heart, and Little Shanghai.

- Tori and I got to spend more time together this weekend than we've ever spent.

- The 154 is a great cut-through between Santa Barbara and the 101 north of Buellton.

- I received Awesome News of a monetary nature - I hope to have a Special Announcement later today or tomorrow.

In other news, happy birthday to Rach today!

What's happening with all of you?