tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21853030857857646842011-04-21T18:33:10.803-04:00Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.comBlogger401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-41816325547775364752008-08-04T17:22:00.005-04:002008-12-10T12:23:36.116-05:00

I went to a DCI regional in Buffalo this weekend and it was AWESOME :) We saw some wonderful shows. I really do miss drum corps.This is a photo of the Glassmen taking the field - the picture doesn't do them justice because I took it with my phone's camera. Each of the corps trooped the stands, which is fun. I think it was due to necessity, but I enjoyed it anyway. These corps are such high

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-29840436582892164382008-07-28T10:05:00.000-04:002008-12-10T12:23:36.371-05:00

This place in Byward Market was named for me :)

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-2053915830078929332008-07-23T18:07:00.006-04:002008-12-10T12:23:36.561-05:00

We went to Ottawa this weekend and I liked it there. I think Canadians are cooler than Americans give them credit for. We went to Parliament Hill, the Museum of Civilization, the national art museum, the Canadian Supreme Court and Byward Market. It was a really good long weekend. One humorous moment was when I first laid eyes on the robes worn by the Canadian Supreme Court Justices. :) From a

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-39280919241133914212008-07-02T09:07:00.004-04:002008-12-10T12:23:36.689-05:00

Happy birthday, Maggie Princess Peanut!!(she's so svelte now, we've deleted the "Porky" from her name - its a fair exchange for all the broccoli she endures now)!My girl is 11 today. We're celebrating tomorrow with a swim in a mucky pond, a trip through the Burger Kind drive-thru, some cheeseburger scarfing, and some belly rubbing.

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-71127520837599854512008-06-23T23:56:00.002-04:002008-12-10T12:23:36.829-05:00

I went to Lori's wedding this weekend. I hadn't seen her or Julie in a year or so and it was really great to see them. I miss seeing my friends every day - I know its been many years, but still.

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-17523407383280101292008-06-02T14:27:00.009-04:002008-12-10T12:23:37.191-05:00

This is an article from the local paper that struck my funny bone. Thank goodness this guy didn't have a tazer handy!June 2, 2008Squirrel evades pepper spray, 5 people treated in cityParamedics treated five people for exposure to pepper spray after a man tried to force a squirrel out of his Durnan Street house Sunday by spraying it with the substance.Emergency crews were called to the house about

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-79354416027565539132008-05-21T18:05:00.005-04:002008-12-10T12:23:38.055-05:00

He gets the keys... And then he gets into his new car... And drives away!

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-15580935114957052872008-05-21T18:03:00.001-04:002008-12-10T12:23:38.188-05:00

That's me, on the left.

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-31730535041524993772008-05-16T10:53:00.004-04:002008-12-10T12:23:38.936-05:00

I went to a class yesterday and learned all about RSS feeds and blogs for the legal profession and how to soup up my Google usage, etc. The stated goal of the class was to boost productivity by upgrading the use of online tools. I was a really good session. However, now I have so many things I want to do on my computer that it's actually decreased my productivity. Incidentally, my new iGoogle

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-38994297064725445742008-05-13T11:16:00.001-04:002008-12-10T12:23:39.046-05:00

Highland ParkMay, 2008

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-1778719207816915162008-05-05T09:39:00.003-04:002008-12-10T12:23:39.225-05:00

A friend of mine that I was close to for a while in my life just had a baby and I've very happy for her. She's going to be a wonderful mother - that's one lucky baby.But the baby brings some really sad feelings for me. I haven't kept in touch with my friend like I should have. In fact, I've always been terrible at keeping in touch with people. That's not an excuse, but more objective fact. The

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-51265915896758081312008-05-02T10:31:00.005-04:002008-05-02T10:53:01.308-04:00

I was just reading a NYT article about Sens. Clinton and McCain's idea ot suspend the federal gas tax for 3 months. Did you know that the plan will save the average driver 30 cents per day? THIRTY cents - one nickel and one quarter. I could return the bottles in my recycle box and do 3X better than that.This is a distraction from the real problem -- we're dependent on oil and the technology to

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-18206391848768872962008-05-01T09:26:00.005-04:002008-12-10T12:23:39.376-05:00

I really don't want to hear one more comment about Rev. Wright. Just stop it. I don't want to watch another clip of his terrible impersonation of Pres. Kennedy, or his description of how white marching bands are different from black marching bands. The man is a racist and I'm tired of listening to his ignorance.I do not believe that he represents the entire black community - nor do I believe that

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-30783087861815263172008-04-30T15:33:00.005-04:002008-12-10T12:23:39.500-05:00

Just like everyone else (except for "the frugals" - i.e. people who have bought hybrid cars or started riding their bikes), the gas prices are adding up for me. Thankfully, I am able to deal with the increases, but I'm certainly not immune from the shock of a $57 tank of gas.I was talking to a friend last week -- she lives around the corner from me -- and she told me that someone had gone down

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-70505722398432245262008-04-28T11:46:00.006-04:002008-12-10T12:23:40.460-05:00

I just spent the morning furious and arguing with my own team members on a project. My job requires that sometimes. Every job has pros and cons and when I have a "con" day, sometimes I wonder what else I could've or should've done with my life. That's probably natural.I think I should have been a panda bear keeper. Those guys have a great job. They watch the pandas in person and on video, cut

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-20784816583396985572008-04-02T14:41:00.004-04:002008-04-03T15:37:38.575-04:00

I have a bit of a cold and it came with a major sinus headache. So, that's no problemo, right? Just take a few cold pills, sinuses come back into line, and then headache goes away. Its a plan. So I went to the drug store and walked over to the cold pill aisle . . . and then remembered THE STUPID COLD PILL RESTRICTION. I hate that.Honestly, I do not believe that tracking my cold pill usage is

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-80237957998568130672008-03-21T12:47:00.005-04:002008-12-10T12:23:40.624-05:00

One of my favorite bands of all time, the Barenaked Ladies, is releasing a childrens' album next month. I can see how that wouldn't be too difficult for these guys - they have a fun view of the world and they don't take themselves too seriously. I'm going to buy the album (as I have all the others!) and check it out. I think BNL should be required listening in all schools . . . but parents would

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-18193085772486388082008-03-21T12:39:00.002-04:002008-03-21T12:46:21.503-04:00

Happy Good Friday everyone! I know I have many, many loyal readers of my blog :P (if you can define "many" as . . . um, one). I wish I was sitting outside on my porch on a 65 degree day with a good book and my favorite little angel (Maggie). Instead, I'm alone at the office and trying to get my brain to focus on the task at hand while I wait for my car to be returned to me by the auto shop.

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-89654691918440021292008-02-28T13:27:00.005-05:002008-12-10T12:23:40.820-05:00

CNN.com is reporting that Prince Harry has been actively serving in Afghanistan on the front lines with his army unit for the past 10 weeks. I don't think we should ask our young men and women to be on those lines, but respect very much the loyalty and sacrifice that these soldiers show every minute they're over there. They've done everything asked of them and more and they're doing it for us.Its

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-41897622308576337982008-02-27T13:23:00.003-05:002008-12-10T12:23:40.928-05:00

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-87319056293043961702008-02-26T13:06:00.001-05:002008-12-10T12:23:41.056-05:00

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-77102891061378131792008-02-19T16:41:00.006-05:002008-12-10T12:23:41.710-05:00

It looks like the biggest, baddest revolutionary on the planet is retiring with his gold watch and pension plan intact. Happy retirement, Castro - you fascist dictator, you.Now is the time to bust that embargo wide open. What better way to finally tank the Cuban communist economy than by flooding it with commercial goods hawked and pushed by a capitalist machine that has pervaded all other

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-38025918773919647992008-02-14T16:46:00.005-05:002008-12-10T12:23:42.039-05:00

I agree whole-heartedly that the children of politicians should be left alone by the press. It isn't fair for young children to be splashed across the 24-hour news channels just because of what their parents do for a living.But, please. Chelsea Clinton is 27 or 28 years old now. She has a masters degree in international relations from Oxford, and she is an active, senior member of her monther's

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-38520275229120622972008-02-13T12:45:00.010-05:002008-12-10T12:23:42.379-05:00

For a long time, I've had the same valentine every year . . . Maggie the labrador! This is her:Maggie is an excellent valentine and always remembers to let me rub her belly in honor of the occassion.This year, I have two valentines. Its awfully nice to have the second valentine because he is sweet and handsome and intelligent ;)As a bonus, valentine no. 2 can rub valentine no. 1's belly and maybe

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-77081008251712075332008-02-06T12:28:00.000-05:002008-02-06T12:44:47.214-05:00

I'm kind of cynical about politicians these days, like most people. I used to really believe in our leaders . . . but they disappointed me.But I think this guy might be the real deal. I can feel my cynicism starting to peel away around the edges.

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-32143256777645116722008-02-05T09:48:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:23:42.579-05:00

Don't forget to vote today! Every eligible voter needs to go to the polls today and make a choice - I don't care what you choose, just make a choice.Well . . . I do care what you choose, but I'd rather have a majority outcome than watch 5% of the population pick my candidates for President.And, if you live in Western NY, please note that the polls don't open until Noon today (I wish someone had

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-35610162580575153202008-01-31T12:13:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:23:42.767-05:00

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-49485170676587988302008-01-21T11:27:00.001-05:002008-12-10T12:23:42.937-05:00

I was looking at some old photos from the Civil Rights Movement online and I thought the reminder of where we came from was very interesting.Dr. King gave a eulogy at the funeral of 4 young girls who were killed in the bombing of the Sixteenth St. Baptist Church in which he said the girls were "the martyred heroines of a holy crusade for freedom and human dignity" (see photo). He had a wonderful

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-1531486889066619482008-01-10T16:03:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:23:43.238-05:00

Every time President Bush says or does something stupid, I think "after this, nothing this man says or does will surprise me." Unfortunately, I stand corrected - again.Today in a press conference, President Bush called for the end of the "occupation" of Arab lands by Israel. Huh??? That may be the biggest crock of hypocrisy I've ever seen. When the President of the United States of America looks

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-44715952409782277682008-01-09T13:56:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:23:43.401-05:00

Almost a half million victims of Katrina have filed lawsuits against the US government for damage arising from the flooding of New Orleans. Their claims equal $3,014,170,389,176,410.00.How do you even say that number? One claim alone was for 3 quadrillion dollars. Thee QUADRILLION? What could that one guy have lost or suffered that is worth that much money? The entire gross domestic product for

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-16468710159491332492008-01-08T09:09:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:23:43.547-05:00

http://www.explodingdog.com/title/justplayingthegame.html

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-23189460667405648452008-01-07T10:17:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:23:43.855-05:00

Jon Stewart is back on the air tonight!http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=291292&GT1=7703

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-77118826255069082452008-01-07T09:47:00.000-05:002008-01-07T10:01:19.595-05:00

Subprime?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22514839/?GT1=10755The American Dialect Society voted "subprime" the Word of the Year for 2007. The finalists were: Facebook, green, Googleganger and waterboarding.Never fear, my Earth-loving friends - "green" won the subcategory of "Most Useful Word of 2007." I've been thinking that "green" is just another instance of how the 24-hour news media monster has

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-86040556059451529792008-01-04T11:00:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:23:44.065-05:00

Early in the very early campaign for President, I was thinking I'd probably vote for Hillary Clinton. I think she has all of the tools a great President needs -- she's smart, she knows how the system works, she's been burned and learned from it, and she appears to think about the issues before she takes a position. Plus, and added bonus is that she's a woman. I think it's about damn time we had a

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-44900471933160468432008-01-02T12:49:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:23:44.252-05:00

Well, it's 2008. Happy new year!I was talking to a co-worker today and he asked me what my resolutions are for this year. I always wondered how many people actually make new year resolutions (and now I know it's at least one). I don't. I tell myself that I would do something if it is worth doing, regardless of the date . . . I wonder if that's true. There are so many things worth doing that I

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-2462169575471705942007-12-05T17:53:00.001-05:002008-12-10T12:23:44.429-05:00

I have a mouse in my house. Or, more likely, I have a lot of mice. I've known this for a while and I thought I was making progress in the epic battle between mice and me, but this week has seen some set-backs. The mice are freaking Maggie out -- so much so that she has chewed the fur off of her foot from the anxiety. *sigh* I wish they'd find another house to live in.

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-79708314984531524912007-12-04T14:45:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:23:44.842-05:00

Then: . . . and now: Happy first birthday to cute Knut! The media says Knut will probably get some fish cakes and croissant for his birthday -- not what I want for my birthday, but festive nevertheless.Knut is the cutest little polar bear ever. I suppose at 235 lbs., he's still little by polar bear standards.

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-56968466361544199602007-12-03T11:02:00.001-05:002008-12-10T12:23:45.081-05:00

(http://www.explodingdog.com/title/itswhatido.html)

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-79895831476312121102007-11-30T13:31:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:23:45.263-05:00

I really can't believe The Sudan has convicted a newly arrived foreign woman of a crime because she allowed a class of 9-year olds to name a teddy bear "Mohammed." I don't think any rational person could believe that this woman intended to show any disrespect to anyone! I mean, geez, get a grip.She was charged with three crimes -- inciting hatred, insulting religion, and showing contempt of

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185303085785764684.post-78601424199900357062007-11-29T13:38:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:23:45.339-05:00

I was listening to a conversation on some inane morning radio show today about whether or not an employer should be allowed to make a policy requiring all employees to speak only English (lets assume this is a conversation about legal immigrants). Specifically, there is a metal shop in Connecticut that adopted a policy requiring its employees to speak only English during work hours, even though

Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11185048130140889073noreply@blogger.com0