This is my last post. Will be deleting the account next month. I have moved on to other things and don't have time for this anymore. I enjoyed it and appreciate my friends and my community.

It is my policy not to discuss my reasons with others.

Have a nice day.

Currently reading a book called Bird Kansas. An English writer went to Kansas and interviewed a lot of people, made up a fictional town, and wrote up short interviews of the people, their problems, how they see the city of Bird, what they do and so one.

Being from a small town in Kansas, reading the book brings back memories that I really identify with. Makes me really glad that I left. I don't know how I can ever go back. Should finish the book sometime this week.

Was pretty warm this week until yesterday. Went swimming outside last Saturday. The pool was warm.

Going to go up to Seattle this morning.

Never thirst.

If the sports teams at Saint Martins U. are called the Saints, doesn't it seem reasonable for the sports teams at Evergreen U. are call the Sinners?

Had some good dreams lately. Life is good.

There is still snow up at Snoqualmie Pass.

I was having coffee with a couple of former workers on Friday at the Mall. There was this young overweight lady walking in to the mall. Her shirt said "BOOBS ROCK!" Should have taken a picture.

The weather is nice. K wants to go out and enjoy the sun.

Been attacking dandelions with boiling water. It works but you have to do it multiple times.

K and I watched the parade in downtown Oly yesterday. Lots and Lots of people. The parade lasted about an hour. May have to be in it next year.

Spring is coming up. Tried a new restaurant yesterday. Super Buffet it is called. Chinese. Not too bad. A little heavy on the fried stuff and very light on the salad and vegetables.

Going to get out later today.

Never Thirst.

LIfe is cool. Need more of it. Need to rest.

I am still alive. Still working and pretty busy. Cooked a little. Mowed the lawn for the first time this year. Rode my bike. Not too profound.

Working at my new job. Long hours and finally getting the hang of it. Could work into a lot a travel.

The volume control on my cell phone quit and I am getting a new one under warranty. The phone hasn't arrived yet. Other than that, I really like my phone.

I think we went out to eat and then went back home.

I roasted the leg of lamb. Even though it was boned and rolled. trimming still too a lot of work. Made 1/2 of into lunches and froze the remainder to make a shepards pie.

DB1 came home a few days between quarters. He stays home just long enough to borrow the car. He pissed me off yesterday because we were going to take him back to Seattle around 4 pm. But was delayed till after 6 because he arranged to meet a future roommates mom at 4. That threw out the plans for the evening. After eating and dropping him off. K and I drove north through downtown and returned home.

I am not in good spirits.

Started a new job on Wednesday and it has overtime, no benefits, and some travel. It is temporary but should work into a permanent thing. Right up my line of work.

Also, got a new cell phone that has a camera, fm radio, and email. It is pretty neat. Did learn one thing. I was using predictive text to write stop and the first three letters spell RUN.

May go out later tonight.

Will cook a leg of lamb tomorrow. Found an easy recipe.

As I am in between jobs, I went to Portland OR yesterday. It has been something I wanted to do for quite a while. I took public transport, 2 intercity transit buses, 2 cap buses, and one Portland OR express bus to get there. I left at 8:30 am and arrived there around 2:30 pm. Cost $7. Took the train back. Took 2.5 hours. Cost $20. The train was better. The seats were great. The movie played was Hollywood Musical 3. It was pretty empty.

The trip down was interesting as there were 4 hippie male travelers traveling to PDX. We got pretty acquainted and learned a lot about public transportation and crab fishing in Alaska.

Don't think I will go public to PDX again.

I played with my new cell phone and realized that the T9 prediction mode for PDX spells SEX.
Serendipity strikes again.

Never thirst.

I got some crap, lots of crap, for canceling TV service. But DirectTV called twice and on the second time I bit on the family package. The cheapest service for about $25 per month. K really missed having TV but she rarely watches it. The service came with Starz and Showtime free for six months.

No updates on the job situation. Am in a holding pattern.

Stopped at a Mexican Grocery and an Indian grocery yesterday. Bought about $20 dollars worth of stuff. They were pretty nice. Will have to go back. Got a corn meal mix to make tortillas.

Got my new cell phone. Listened to my podcast on it yesterday. Took pictures. Lots of bell and whistles. Ordered a wire headset, pc data cable, and a car charge for it.

Want to know the last thing a married women wants to hear during sex?

"Honey, I am home!"

I went and did something that upset K and DB2. I canceled the TV and the extra phone services on caller ID. I felt the TV was not worth the 51 dollars a month, plus it was a big time waster and seldom there is nothing very good on. We would turn it on to see if there was anything good on. Later I will go out and get an antenna for it. K griped at me last night as DB2 mentioned that he has supposed to watch two news programs for school next week. DB2 didn't say anything until last night.

One goes out and sees TV everywhere. How about one place that doesn't?

I got a new cell phone a pink nokia 6085. My old one is a nokia 6165a. The new one has a camera and a radio.

Got a job. It is a temporary job that may work into a full time job. I should start next week after the background check is successful. Also had an interview for a project engineer position in a nearby city that I should hear about next week too. Things are looking good.

May try something new tonight.

Had 3 dreams this week. Nothing sexy or creepy.

Enjoy

Had one rejection, one interview and one invite to interview. Looks good.

Will go out in a few minutes to WALMART.

Had some deep thoughts but lost them.

Went to the Ram last evening the hole place was packed even the bar. We left and went to Lonestar.

K and DB2 made it back from NYC. Both had colds.

Enjoy.

K and DB2 took off for NYC. On my own until Tuesday night. Yahoo. Mostly staying at home. Had a nice call from a place I sent my resume to yesterday. Looks like I have an interview. The bad part is it is 50 miles away. Commuting may be a pain. But it is a job. Should be fun. Construction repair.

Made cookies yesterday. They could have come out better. They were a little on the hard side.

Browsed a lot on the computer. Will go out later to have a beer.

Have been in good spirits last month. Maybe it is because I am in control of my life and staying balanced.

The only way my life could improve is for me to meet new people and socialize. All I want to do is stay home.

Never thirst

Job hunting was finished by Tuesday Noon. Felt it was accomplished. Went to Edgewood and Auburn. Now working on my job hunting skills. Got the first unemployment check this week.

I am amazed at how busy I am when I am not working.

Meanwhile, I am reading and cooking. K went to a retreat in Ocean Shores this weekend.
May go up to Seattle later today.


Really enjoying life. Could be better though.

Been thinking about traveling. Would like to go on another cruise ship. This time through the Panama Canal. Also get a rail pass and go to Boston via Texas and Miami by train. Got the itchy feet.

Have a good day. Never thirst.

K and I went out Friday afternoon. We went to Jakes because of the great beer there. They had moved a couple of years ago and included a restaurant. The food was excellent. I had grilled oysters and grilled vegetables. We tried to go there last year in the evening but the place was packed. This time it wasn't. Afterwards we went to Tacoma to shop and then stopped by Trader Joes.

No success on the job market. Do have a couple more leads. Stopped by my old office to be friendly. It was slightly successful. Will keep looking.

Need to stay upbeat.

Never thirst

Took DB1 to a voice competition yesterday northeast of here. He did great! He got one honorable mention in classical voice and first place in contemporary. I talked with his voice instructor. I asked if he knew any jokes and he told me a story. He said he was leading a group interaction game for about 65 college students called ZOOM. The object of the game is to get the group know each other better. They are told to divide into two groups based on a single characteristic and then introduce themselves as fast as they can and do it again. The way they form the two groups is up to them. One characteristic was whether they fold or scrunch toilet paper. The group that folded was a neat orderly circle but the scrunchers were disorganized. He thought that was very interesting.

Also, I ran into a lady I did Yoga with, Lisa. Her daughter was competing there. Didn't know how we did.

Later, we joined K in Shelton for another performance. On the way to Shelton, we went by a wreck on I-5 NE of Tacoma. 3 car crash. There was one guy laying on the ground holding his leg in pain.

Job hunting is slow. DB1 got word that his job will end in 30 days as the place is closing.

Did go to Seattle on Friday. Was the designated donor and passenger. Was going to eat at the Space Needle but the restaurant was closed. Went to a Russian Spa and had dinner with DB2 instead.

Enjoy.

Got laid off yesterday along with 3 others. One of them said if the firm does not get any new work in the next three weeks, it would fold. Will go back on Monday to get my stuff as I took the bus on Friday. Am in pretty good spirits. Some are pretty pissed and upset.

Was to have an evaluation lunch which was didn't happen so I had leftovers from the monthly birthday lunch. Ended up leaving shortly after 3 pm. The bus ride home was on a small new bus that was packed to the gills. I counted 48 at one time. Some junior high school class loaded up the bus.

Saw an ad in the paper this morning for an engineering position will apply shortly.

Looking forward to spending a little more time with the family.

Was outside all day today. Am in a pretty good mood. Lately, when I walk around downtown, I look at people and smile. The pretty ones I also wink.

I think the worst of winter is over. Looking pretty good.

This Christmas was one of the worst for me that ever was. First, DB2 had some trouble about a week before. 2nd, two weeks of snow, about 24 inches total that screwed Olympia up all the time, driving around was crap with a lot of people having chains on their cars. 3rd, my office shut down for a week without pay. 4th, no bonus this year. and 5th, my 92 year old aunt on my Dad's side of the family, kicked the bucket on Christmas day. She went to the hospital two days before. Heart Failure. I ended up flying to Denver on Sunday, driving to SW Kansas with a cousin and his Mom on Monday, funeral on Tuesday, driving back to Denver on New years eve, and flying back on New Years day. There went partying with the wife over the holidays

At least the weather was very good on the High Plains while I was there. It was sunny with highs in the 50s and 60s. Saw family, high school class mates, and friends. The trip didn't come out like I expected. The other cousins weren't as welcoming but I did see them. My sister was there with her grandson. She tried to be friendly with me in person but I couldn't as she burned me in the past and doesn't keep in touch. She finally got the hint. Felt sorry for her grandson. He had a tough life and it shows. He dressed in Goth with BRIGHT Red hair and smoke. I think he wore the same clothes to the funeral as he wore the day before. Didn't see them after the last get together after coming back from the cemetery.

On the day of the funeral, I got up and walked to the donut shop for breakfast. The owner was working there and it was someone I knew. We talked for a while. She asked me to take a box to the family. That is nice, you die in Hugoton and your family gets a free box of donuts.

The funeral ceremony had several parts over two days. The night before, we had a family viewing at the funeral home, where we went and viewed the open casket and spoke about our time with Aunt Ruby. The next morning has a flower service at the church where the flowers were picked up and shown to us with the names of the givers and the kinds of flowers. One bouquet was in the shape of a cross made out of vines that stood out of the rest. At noon, the dinner was had at the church directly behind the worship area. It was an open casket dinner as the partition between the eating area and the worship area was glass. My high school math and science teacher helped serve the meal like she does when I go out there for funerals.

The funeral service was at two PM. My sister sat down beside me. The wife went to pray in the chapel at work and she said she had a couple of flashes, one of a hymn that was sung and of a lady with black hair in a pony tail sitting by me. The preacher spoke a few words but that wasn't about the same Aunt Ruby that I knew. Later, her daughter assured me that it was.

After we drove out to the cemetery for the graveside service. The preacher was the first to leave. It was sunny, dry, and windy. I took a few pictures. The grandsons and granddaughter spouses were the pall bearers.

We all went back to the church to eat some more and visit.

I did pay my respects a couple of more times before leaving the area.

On the trip back, we almost had a wreck going around a truck who decided at the last second to turn left without signaling or braking. Later, my cousin got stopped in Colorado for going 81 when he should have be going 65 at the most. All he got was a warning ticket. His driving scared the crap out of me. He would talk on the cell phone, change lanes at the last second, play the radio too loud, drive using only his knees, eat with both hands, and drive a little too aggressive.

I was able to meet my cousin's son's family in Denver Monday night. On Wednesday, I met up with a cousin on my Mom's side who also lives in Denver and we went out for supper and beers on New Years Eve. We talked the whole time. It made up for the rest of the holiday.

I am glad to be back.

K and I are going to a party this evening.