New Richmond, WI Public Library

Blogging from the Carleton A. Friday Memorial Library in New Richmond, WI. Waiting for Dawn and family to finish her sister-in-law's bridal shower.

New Richmond on a Saturday afternoon has a sleepy feel to it. Perfect weather and the librarian just came outside and asked if the wifi reached to where I am sitting on the sidewalk. Nice. Library closes at 15:00 on Saturdays.

Never Stop Bailing -- Titanic

My contribution to Despair, Inc. would be a poster with a picture of the Titanic and the phrase, "Never stop bailing." Not sure what value I'd pair it with.

CityWalk: Woodbury, MN

Dawn and I saw this pedestrian-oriented community today while driving into Woodbury. I thought it looked like a very colorful place to live. It reminded me of a European village, where each building had it's own personality. Definitely would require lots more investigation before I would live there, but it caught my eye.

http://www.citywalkatwoodbury.com/

Blogging from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Here I am. Free wifi here too. Woot.

Blogging from the Sacramento International Airport

Free wifi. Woot.

Here at 03:45. Everyone looks exhausted. Got on the SuperShuttle with someone whose phrase-of-the-morning was "dangerously close." Dangerously close this and dangerously close that. The SuperShuttle driver was courteous, helpful, alert, and kept his van neat. Top notch, a contrast from my flight in June. My flight leaves at 06:00.

Found an airport outlet plug for my laptop so I can recharge a bit before checking my baggage. Created the Sacramento International Airport entry at the Air Power wiki.

Buckwheat Pancakes for Dawny

I was all flapjack-flipping this morning:


Sitting with my Safeway Select Premium Quality Estate Grown 100% Grade A Dark Amber Maple Syrup. Eleven adjectives means it has to be good, right?


Lessons learned:

1. Cook one pancake at a time else they come out looking like omelettes.
2. First few pancakes seemed to get dried out by sitting on a plate on a burner set to Low. x_x
   
3. Flapjack-flipping is fun.
   
4. BAM, kick it up a notch. I'm going to make a million off that phrase. ;)
   

License Plate Humor

From a license-plate frame: San Andreas, It's Not Our Fault

KYDS Songs

South Fallsburg, NY-native Gavin DeGraw's "I Don't Want to Be" from his 2003 album "Chariot" on the J Records label. Video.

Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK-native Corinne Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On" from her 2006 album "Corinne Bailey Rae" on the EMI label. Video.

Tyumen, Russia-native Irving Berlin's "Isn't This A Lovely Day?" from the 1935 musical comedy, "Top Hat." Sung by Fred Astaire and accompanied by Ginger Rogers.

Los Angeles-based Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Tell Me Baby" from their 2006 album "Stadium Arcadium" on the Warner Brothers label. Video.

Toronto-based Cowboy Junkies' "Sweet Jane" from their 1988 album "The Trinity Session" on the RCA Records label. Video.

Denver-based The Fray's "How to Save A Life" from their 2005 album "How to Save a Life" on the Epic label. Video. Meaning.

Kansas City, Missouri-based Bloodstone's "Natural High" from their 1973 album "Natural High" on the London label.

Little Rock, Arkansas-based Evanescence's "Call Me When You're Sober" from their 2006 album "The Open Door" on the Wind-Up label. Video. Awesome.

M.C. Escher, Hip Hop, and Samurai Champloo

Visited the Crocker Art Museum this morning to see their "M.C. Escher: Rhythm of Illusion" exhibit. I enjoyed seeing the rough drafts of his works. In the museum store, I saw this image of a cat, entitled, "White Cat." His landlady gave it to him and it was his companion for some time. I also liked the fish he used in geometric patterns:



While leaving, I noticed the museum has a Hip-Hop 101 class, where experts will discuss and answer questions about the real roots of Hip-Hop and how many types of Hip-Hop really exist. I might attend.

Last night I watched four episodes of the hip-hop themed anime series Samurai Champloo. I'd like to watch the other DVDs now. It's not addicting but it's entertaining.

Blogger Dashboard List

Blogger, why do you change the order of the blogs on the dashboard so the last accessed blog moves to the top of the list? I like the blog listing to remain static so I know exactly where to mouse each time. x_x

Ctrl + Shift

One strange issue I've faced while using the Dvorak keyboard is that if I install both the English (United States) and the United States-Dvorak keyboard mappings, Windows XP randomly seemed to switch between the two, driving me nuts. After much trial and error of this happening I finally figured out that this happens when I click Ctrl + Shift -- this switches between the keyboard mappings. x_x Thank you for making this so gosh darn difficult to track down...perhaps notify the user before switching keymaps with a pop-up balloon containing instructions on what just happened and how to switch back? Sort of like the StickyKeys pop-up (press Shift five times in succession).

Inviting Ken Mehlman

I invited the Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman to Google Mail today. Really Ken, the world wants to know if gop.com gives you 2.7GB of e-mail storage.

And while you're in the e-mail mood, would you please tell me how you have me on your e-mail list and why the mail-merge always puts Rae in for my first name?

Quote of the Day

"Fellow citizens, why do you turn and scrape every stone to gather wealth and take so little care of your children to whom you must relinquish all?"
-- Socrates

Promoting American Wines Overseas Class (MQ 856)

Brilliant:

http://www.state.gov/m/fsi/tc/c6951.htm

I'm trying to fathom why this class exists as a government-sponsored class.

Local Theater Season Tix Prices

B Street Theatre: The Last Five Years (through Sep 3), Wishing Well (July 23-Sep 10)
Fri's @ 8pm: $132

Sat's @ 9pm: $102
Season runs June-June, tix go on sale in late November

Sacramento Theatre Company: $135-$195 (includes 6 season productions, does not include holiday show). To Kill a Mockingbird (Oct 4-Nov 5), The Peculiar and Sudden Nearness of the Moon (Nov 8-Dec 31), Private Lives (Jan 24-Feb 18), Othello (Mar 14-Apr 8), Electricidad (Mar 28-May 20), and Someone’s Somebody (May 2-May 27).

Mondavi Center: prices vary

For Dawn

I love you

GRE Test Sites

11	THOMSON PROMETRIC TEST CENTER FAIR OAKS, CA 95628 Map Phone: (916)961-7323 Site Code: 0508		11733 FAIR OAKS BLVD ALMOND ORCHARD SEE LAB 0053 ALSO
12	THOMSON PROMETRIC TEST CENTER FAIR OAKS, CA 95628 Map Phone: 916-961-7323 Site Code: 0053

GRE Scheduling Policy:
The General Test may be taken on computer only once per calendar month up to five times in a 12-month period.

Where Do People Take Them? The Subject Tests are given at paper-based test centers worldwide three times a year in:

November
December
April

So I remember for later

Secondary Car Purchase

Investigating the purchase of a used car once Dawn completes the move. Dawn likes Saturns. We're still in the preliminary stages of figuring out what we want. I have a ceiling of about $6-8,000 for a used car. I'd like to get something that will last for years to come. Dependable, practical, low-maintenance, easily serviced.

My mother, on the recommendation of my mechanic uncle, purchased a new Honda Civic.

My initial thoughts:

• Reacted to the sight of missing hubcaps the other day and thought that I would prefer not having a car with hubcaps, but it's not a deal-breaker.
  

As things float into my head or Dawn's maybe we can post them here:

• Mazda MX-6 Noticed we both liked the looks of the, though we don't know what year it was in the second-generation class of cars.
• Mazda MX-8 We liked the silver color and the look.
  
• Honda S2000
• BMW 325i
• BMW 330i
• Mercedes C230 Kompressor hatchback
  
• Mitsubishi Eclipse
• Volvo S60
• Kia Amanti (like we can afford it right now ;)
  

Colors:

• Toyota's Salsa Red Pearl (4Runner)
• Mazda's Galaxy Gray or Sunlight Silver (MX-8)

Forbes' Best and Worst Selling Cars 2007

Car Buying
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/automotive/economy-cars/review.html
http://carsoup.org
http://ebaymotors.com

Honda Fit
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/automotive/economy-cars/review.html

Reviews:
edmunds.com

Jelly Belly and Muir Woods Visit

Dawn and I visited the Jelly Belly factory and Muir Woods on Monday, July 31:


Here's Dawn in front of the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, CA. She's giving the peace sign because really, there's nothing to fear at the Jelly Belly factory other than parents waiting in line with their children and sugar overdoses. Peace, love, and granola. Dawn's favorite flavor is Juicy Pear. I haven't decided on a favorite flavor yet -- I like coconut and the fruit-flavors. Not a big fan of peanut butter. Buttered popcorn is their #1 seller (overseas?), followed by Very Cherry. Or it might have flip-flopped. Those are the top two, anyway. Apparently, the Goelitz family has been making candy corn since about 1900. They created the first Halloween- and Easter-themed candy corn, and that's progress for you in the world of candy.


The Jelly Belly factory has two benches with giant jelly bean plushies on them. This one looks like it's either my new best pal or it's gone mad and is going to kill me. Note the oddly shaped five digits on it's right hand and decide for yourself. And really Mr. Jelly Belly, shouldn't you be wearing pants?


Dawn and I figured out how to not only how to work the timer on her camera but also how to take pictures in late-afternoon low-light conditions. I think this picture of us is really sweet. In the background is a family circle grove of coast redwoods. They're some of the most beautiful trees on earth.

Roof Cat

I sneezed while taking pictures and this cat looked up at me, then lazily closed it's eyes and fell back asleep.

Radio Song

Getting in touch with my funky self on Sacramento's R&B station, 101.1 (ClearChannel owned and operated x_x):

Greensboro, North Carolina LTD's "(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again," from their 1977 album "Something to Love," on the A&M Super Budget label. Loving those horns! Video.

KYDS Songs

Songs I've heard on KYDS in recent days:

Los Angeles-based Tool's "The Pot," from their 2006 album "10,000 Days" on the Volcano label. Video.

Jacksonville, Florida-based Shinedown's "Heroes," from their 2005 album "Us and Them" on the Atlantic Records label. Video. I enjoyed the lyrics, "All my heroes have now become ghosts... All my heroes are dead and gone, But they're inside of me, they still live on."

Essex, England-based Bloc Party's "Luno" from their 2005 album "Silent Alarm" on the V2 Records label. Video. Weird video warning. x_x I enjoyed the drumming.

Roof Cat

Sleeping:

Foods

Recording foods from my cookbook that I want to prepare. Today looking at breakfast foods.

Banana-nut pancakes (had some at IHOP last Saturday morning with banana slices and shelled walnuts on the top with whipped cream. yum)
Buckwheat pancakes (one of Dawn's favorites)
Crêpes
French toast with powdered sugar and maple syrup
Breakfast burrito
Banana smoothie/protein drink