rasta's Xanga

waka-waka-waka

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 17:59:55 GMT

Sometime life feels like the video game pacman.

(ok, I realize the picture is actually Ms. Pacman)

Anyway... life just sometimes feels like you've got to keep moving eating up dots (almost as if the dots are getting pushed down your throat), even if you don't want anymore. The only time you have a chance to stop is by running head first into a wall. And the moment you do... a ghost come up and gets ya right in the ass.

I need one of those cut-scenes that happened in the game in-between levels.

I tried to figure out how to upload this to play but couldn't... so here: http://audio.xanga.com/rasta

I'm a loser

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 03:40:03 GMT

I'm a loser... I never post anything. Nothing exciting or informative to post.

I work, I work, sleep, and hang out with the fam. I guess I could post random thoughts that occur, but I'm too busy working.

Being an adult stinks. I wouldn't give up the family but I wish I had less responsibility to do stuff. I need to win a big ass lottery. I'd love to have time to do... something.

09/11/2001 - So where were you?

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:04:51 GMT

I got into a discussion today with someone who lost a cousin in the South Tower. He didn't find out about his cousin for about a week afterwards. Anyway we spent some time discussing where we were at and what we were doing 5 years ago today.

I do find it remarkable that I actually remember. You see.. I have a horrible memory. I'm not kidding. I take notes with almost everything. Since google desktop was released I now make electronic notes and use it to search my various computers for my old notes.

I'm sure previous generations remember JFK, Pearl Harbor, the USS Maine, Custers Last Stand, Emancipation Proclamation, Fort Sumter (sp??),, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence, etc...

So... Here was my 09/11/2001

I went into work unusually early that day. I recently rebuilt a major file server for work and had to finish up a few things before it went live later that afternoon. At about 08:50 I walk out of the server room and overhear some people talking about a plane hitting the WTC North Tower. I remember remarking that a B29 Liberator hit the Empire State Building in the late 40's or 50's due to fog. A co-worker noted that I know too much about lots of useless facts. I agreed and decided to step out for a smoke.

I go out for a smoke and get into the exact same discussion with someone in the smoking area. Finish up and head back up stairs and get a call from my wife. She's gives me the low-down on what was going on and we hang up.

It was 09:00.

We didn't have any radios or tv's in the office and the net news pages were already slow to load so I stand in my office door and tell a few people what was going down. By the time I finish, the phone rings. Michelle is calling me back to tell me she was watching it when another plane ran into the South Tower. I think I said something like, "What in the fuck are you talking about."

Some one at work brings in a radio they had in their car. About this time all sorts of crap starts getting reported. A whole bunch of planes, one near Pittsburgh. The city begins an evacuation of the taller buildings around the city. I work across the river from the city and see traffic starting to get heavy.

Shortly after the 3rd plane hits the Pentagon my wife calls and tells me. I think I said, "Holy shit! It's friggin go time. We're going to war."

It's reported on the radio that Westmoreland County 911 received phone calls from a plane in Western PA that was highjacked. People around the area are freaking out.

Michelle calls and stated the same thing about the 911 calls. I think she said, "You need to get home, I don't want you out in this crap." We weren't cleared to leave at the time.

Right about 10 AM we get cleared to leave work. As I get in my car and turn on the radio the dj says, "Oh my GOD, one of the towers just collapsed."

My car is almost out of gas and I stop about 1/2 mile from work and fill up. As I go into the store the TV reports a plane just crashed in Somerset County.

As I'm driving down through the southside all bridges into the city are closed to vehicle traffic except buses. The lanes are filled up with foot traffic. People are leaving the city on foot.

It took me about 35 minutes to get home. By that time the North Tower Collapses. Initial reports of casualties report up to 25,000 people could've died in the collapses. Man... thanks to the NYFD and NYPD for their work in getting people the hell out. Also, people like Rick Rescorla http://www.politicalmusings.net/archives/2005/09/11/remembering-9-11

I spent the entire day in awe and unable to stop watching the TV. I think there was one point where I may have actually cried. Which for me is a big deal. I don't cry often.

Man... what a day. I don't think I slept until the next day.

GOD bless all those that were directly impacted by that day and the ensuing trials our nation has faced since that time. Your all in my prayers on a daily basis.

Maybe tomorrow I'll post some of the nitty gritty on how this day affected me since that time.

Oy Vey have I been busy...

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 20:19:56 GMT

Long time no post.

Since my last post I've officially started a new position with my company. It's been a bit of an adjustment to make to say the least. In my previous positions I've worked primarily with technology and with people outside of the IT department only to fix problems.

In my new position I need to work with people almost constantly. You see I'm a continuous improvement person. I get out with people and work with them to make them and our business processes more efficient. Another big part is working closely with the executive management team.

What I've learned so far...

Technology is easy, people are hard.

I've also done a bit of traveling for training. I went to Eastern Virginia in the early part of August. Which was cool. Except for my travels through the back woods of West Virginia... Interesting state West Virginia. I was suprised by the lack of what most consider normal everyday things. Like credit card slots and digital displays on gas pumps. We got lost at one point on the way back and ended up asking for directions. It took us 3 attempts to find someone who could direct us to a major road. Only one of those people even knew which way it was to a major city. (Beckly W VA apparently is a major city for them.)

I recently went out to Iowa as well. What a really boring state. It was pretty. Fields of corn and such as far as the eye could see. Then the smell of cows and pigs ruin any fun your having.

Kelsie, keep an eye on your e-mail. I finally got amazon to re-issue that gift certificate from your birthday. You should get something within the next day or so.

Peace Out

Vacations are over...

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:30:03 GMT

Well my vacations are over... and have been for a few days. My replacement was hired and I've been awefully busy training the guy.

We had a blast at Splash Lagoon. And this past weekend Daniel and I went camping with our church.

I don't make it out into the woods enough! To me, it's kind of hard to not feel the hand of GOD all around you out there. It's so beautiful and relaxing.

Here are a few pictures from our vacation.

Heather, did you get my e-mail about the website / graphics work? If your not interested, cool.

Kelsie, happy belated b-day! I'll send you something via e-mail. Keep your eye out for something from Amazon. Also check your junk e-mail, it seems to end up in their alot.

Peace out.

Vacation time is here!!!!

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 22:32:03 GMT

As of 5:30 PM this afternoon I'm starting the first voluntary vacation from work I've had in like 7 years or more. I say voluntary as I've had other periods of time off of work, although they typically began something like... "We've been forced to make a few cut backs... your salary has been cut back.... to zero. You can stick around and work if you want, if things turn around we'll start paying you again."

We're headed to Here, Splash Lagoon in Northern PA. It's a giant indoor water park and has quite a few things to do outside around the area as well. We can't travel too far as Michelle is pregnant.

Not to mention... who wants to drive very far when gas is as expensive as it is. $46.25 this afternoon for a fill-up.

I'm off until the 14th and am so excited I could practically soil myself.

I work for a company that makes products for folks that can't speak or have trouble communicating verbally. We're one of many sponsors locally here in Pittsburgh for a walk for Autism this coming weekend. If you've got a bucks gathering some dust that your not gonna use for the outrageous price of gas, make a donation fool. Autism Speaks Website

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:01:48 GMT

Happy Birthday Heather!

Shoot me your e-mail address, I've got something for you.

__________

Holy crap gas is expensive.... filled up my Jeep Wrangler tonight... $49.50

Lots of new stuff...

Sun, 23 Apr 2006 16:12:18 GMT

First off, a belated happy birthday to my older sister! Love ya Marcia. I wanted to call you but it's been a hectic week.

We went out and got Michelle a new car. Her's was going on 10 years and was on its last legs. Kind of suprised we got what we did for it. We got her a used Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. She names her cars and this one is named Zoolander. Why? The color is called blue steel and in the movie Zoolander he had a "look" called blue steel.

She likes it, thats all that matters.

I got a promotion this week, to a non-IT related position. I'm a KPO now, that stands for Kaizen Promotion Officer. Basically I examine all the stuff going on in my company and work with everyone to try to improve on the efficiency. I won't be out of the IT world for a few more months while I wrap up some of the projects but I'm pretty amped to get out. It seems as though that the same problems have been occurring with new technology that occurred when I first started in the business. Time for some changes.

Speaking of changes, I started going to a new church this week. I was going to a Methodist church off and on for a while. It was sort of traditional, hymns, sermon, etc... It wasn't all that engaging to be honest. I got a letter in the mail from this new group and it struck a chord and made me curious to see what they were about. A couple of folks started a non-denominational church about a year or so ago and I went on Easter to check it out. It was pretty cool. Mostly a younger crowd with a modern slant on things. Today Michelle and Daniel went along. They both had a good time and Daniel didn't want to come home. He had a good time with the crafts and the massive playground outside. Their isn't too much on their site, but here's a link. North Hills Church

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 23:07:56 GMT

Man, it's been forever since I posted on here. I had completely forgotten about it. It took me about 40 minutes to find the original e-mail from 3 years ago that had the password.

For those that have sent me numerous messages over the past few months regarding some sort of attack on the rastafarian religion... I'm not a rastafarian. I'm a non-denominational christian, who really likes Bob Marley and some of the things he stood for like brotherhood of mankind, peace, his fight against racial injustice, etc... (Not the pot smoking.)

I DO NOT have rastafarian friends that will rise up and take on some kid on the internet that is bashing the religion or believes he's a new prophet or Haile Selassie reborn.

That is all, carry on.

Monday, June 02, 2003

Mon, 02 Jun 2003 20:46:07 GMT

Ok, Once again it's been forever since I've written anything on here...

Again, I blame it on lack of time. I've been working like 60-70 hours a week, on the weeks I don't work on weekends. This sucks. I need to win a freakin' lottery or something. (I guess, I should playing cause I don't have a chance in hell if I don't play.) I don't know how long I can keep this up. Being an adult sucks bigtime.

At least I have a job though.. It could be worse. I know a few people who haven't had a full time job in over a year!!

What to bitch and moan about today...

How about nothing. My life has been sooo lame for soo long that everything sucks. I'd write about why but when everything sucks so bad, it would take me forever.

I'd say I wish I was young again, but youth kind of sucked too. People telling you what to do, no rights, not old enough for this, or for that.

I wish it was a different time period when things were a lot more simple. Like back in the 1800's or something. Literally, one could just move his happy ass out into the woods and live off the land. No job, no bills, no traffic jams. Hell of a lot simpler back then. Ok so there were no computers and other cool stuff, but hey I'd give all that up for a more leisurely pace of life.

Site of the day... My dream job would be to work for these folks. Out in the woods, away from this kind of lame computer work. http://www.copperoar.com/comulti.html