tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96574432012-01-27T22:37:09.951-08:00Observations on life from the Left Coast. Rants and ravings on the miscellaneous drivel that is modern existence. Mostly I'm just blundering through midlife as a single guy, absentee parent and all-around introspective insomniac. My most recent challenge has been to get out of debt.The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.comBlogger5061100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-5129591769593954812012-01-27T22:35:00.000-08:002012-01-27T22:37:09.966-08:00

I was reading back through my posts about my credit woes and my work to get out of debt. I was pretty disappointed in what I wrote because it didn't convey the way I felt going through this stuff. It definitely didn't capture how I felt when I was getting started down this road. I was scared. Petrified. Paralyzed with fear. Consumed with doubt. I didn't know what to do and didn't know where to

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-33666522060113750482012-01-09T19:31:00.000-08:002012-01-09T19:34:58.386-08:00

The Fed reported today that Americans increased their spending in November. Some might see that as good news and a sign of economic recovery, but because that spending increase was on credit cards and through auto loans, that doesn't strike me as a good news. In fact, that sounds like whatever lessons people learned about cutting debt and increasing savings have been forgotten. I held out some

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-29016839232394993312012-01-06T07:14:00.000-08:002012-01-06T07:14:00.181-08:00

I've been working to pay off my debt for a year and a half. Based on my latest estimate, I have 2 years to go. Then I will be debt free. I got through my second Christmas without charging any gifts or expenses on a credit card. So, there is no post holiday remorse or added financial stress to deal with this month. I didn't really make any resolution for the start of the year, but I did set some

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-67767762854579883792011-09-02T00:14:00.000-07:002011-09-02T00:28:50.110-07:00

I canceled a credit card today.  I had intellectually made the decision to do it a while ago, but didn't for what I thought was a practical reason. I had chopped up the card and could not find the account number, which I thought I would need. Today, a new card for the account came in the mail, so I placed the call. I learned during the call I would not have needed the number. On the front of

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-91479419556630132182011-08-25T22:28:00.000-07:002011-08-25T22:29:31.965-07:00

The credit card companies, once a source of endless hours of stress, now merely amuse me. A few weeks ago I got notification from one of the banks with which I still have a card with a balance. The letter informed me that they were lowering my credit limit, due to information they had seen on my credit report. I admit, I was briefly disappointed by the news, until I remembered I am no longer

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-52608431374185298152011-08-08T22:20:00.000-07:002011-08-08T22:20:23.393-07:00

I didn't know this was even possible, but here is proof the federal government can actually close a program this is no longer needed. It was announced today that the House of Representatives will end it's page program. Here is a link to the Los Angeles Times' version of the story. But, of course, the Senate page program will remain.

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-37204448573799012962011-08-08T22:00:00.000-07:002011-08-25T22:30:35.816-07:00

Uncle Sam is going through the same thing many of the rest of us have already experienced. His credit score has been downgraded and financial experts are saying he may be at higher risk of not paying off his credit card bills. Oh, sure, he was still paying his debt. He hadn't missed a payment. Shouldn't Standard and Poor's cut him some slack? Yea, I said the same thing to Chase and the other

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-32866175705548382992011-07-25T21:49:00.000-07:002011-07-25T21:49:48.547-07:00

I'm fed up with this political game of financial chicken taking place in Washington, D.C. If these idiots that the rest of us idiots elected to represent us can't prevent the federal government from defaulting on its debt, I'm not sure what we are paying those morons for. However, it is equally infuriating is the simplistic language being used to describe the debt problem, the proposed deals and

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-3267262132514468552011-05-27T18:31:00.000-07:002011-07-25T21:06:31.858-07:00

A new Discover card came in the mail today. I didn't realized the old one was about to expire because it had been shredded months ago. I'm not sure it really was about to expire, because the expiration date on the new card is only about 18 months out. So, I activated the card, which seems strange to do, since this one will just be shredded too. But I find myself just letting the card sit here,

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-34251929878352759672011-05-24T21:09:00.000-07:002011-05-24T21:09:41.540-07:00

I have not been faithful to my budget. I've been cheating. Fortunately, I have not been using any credit cards. All my financial indiscretions have been committed with cash.   I haven't busted the budget completely, or burned through any funds needed for bills, but I've slipped up. This month, I have had some extra money in the bank. And I've been eating out at restaurants and spending some

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-29145773531058734342011-05-07T17:35:00.000-07:002012-01-19T23:22:06.378-08:00

It was one year ago this month that I finally sat down to figure out just how much debt I had accumulated and try to figure out if there was a way out. One year ago, I wasn't sure there was, but I knew I needed to do something. Figuring out how much I owed was the first step. The second step was trying to learn how to do a personal budget and live on it. There have been ups and downs, and there

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-11879684297905303632011-04-26T23:23:00.000-07:002011-04-26T23:23:46.042-07:00

I learned something interesting today. My ex, from the failed engagement that was a regular theme earlier in this blog's history, got married. I wasn't sure how to feel about that. There was no twinge of pain, but I must admit I was curious, so I tried to learn a little more. All I really knew at the beginning of the search was that the ex's last name had changed. What I learned was that she and

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-57566209436102321722011-04-22T07:27:00.000-07:002011-04-22T07:27:59.300-07:00

I heard on the Today Show this morning that the current estimate on the damage caused by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami is $300 billion. The amount of money the U.S. government is overspending this year is 4 times that much. That's a massive tidal wave of economic destruction caused by Congress and the president. Are you starting to get a feel for the enormity of our financial problem?

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-7408332690828926602011-04-20T22:49:00.000-07:002011-04-21T07:04:36.360-07:00

The more time I spend agonizing over my own budget, and my own debt, the more I get irritated with governments' handling of public money. We are hearing a lot about government spending in recent weeks and we will hear a lot more about it now through the end of next year's presidential election. Sadly, what we are hearing is a lot of slogan-like sound bites, but little of substance. The two major

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-36359488188194918262011-02-20T20:03:00.000-08:002011-02-20T20:42:02.836-08:00

I'm beginning to understand what Dave Ramsey talks about when he says you need to get "gazelle intense" at attacking debt. I paid off Debt No. 4 this month, and now I can't wait to get rid of the rest of them.Of course, the first 4 debts were pretty small. The ones that are left are going to take a while to polish off. Based on all the number crunching I've done, the next debt should get paid off

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-86293315761153025942011-01-08T08:30:00.000-08:002011-01-08T08:30:00.446-08:00

The Federal Reserve reported on Friday that consumer borrowing rose in November for things like cars and college loans. However, the Fed also reported that people are actually saving more and spending less on unsecured credit, meaning credit cards.We, the people, borrowed 6.3 percent less in November on our credit cards. It's the 27th straight month that consumer borrowing declined. An economist

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-53242408696056541992011-01-03T23:20:00.000-08:002011-01-03T23:59:02.194-08:00

I got through the holidays without tapping into any credit cards. It's the first time since I've had credit cards that that has happened. It was an all-cash holiday.I am proud of myself for that.I wish I could just accept that and move on, but I can't resist the urge to beat myself up a bit.I didn't go a very good job of planning for the holiday spending in advance. I didn't budget for it in

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-77755398205431115482010-10-07T23:33:00.000-07:002010-10-08T00:13:41.699-07:00

If the Federal Reserve or the nation's banks are waiting on U.S. consumers to heat up the nation's economy by going back to our old ways and spending more money on credit, it's going to be a long wait.The Federal Reserve reported Thursday that credit card debt is down for the 24th straight month.There are a lot of us out here that got the message that you don't trust us and that you think we are

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-6367696337784781702010-10-06T00:42:00.000-07:002010-10-06T01:07:57.331-07:00

I've paid off my first credit account since deciding to use the debt snowball method to tackle my outstanding debts.One down. Nine to go, including $100 dollars I owe a family member.Actually, that $100 should have been the first bill I paid off, but I wanted to tackle the interest-charging creditors first. If all goes as planned, I should get 2 more small debts paid in the next 3 to 4 months,

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-28079089724216152742010-09-28T23:44:00.000-07:002010-09-29T00:06:13.394-07:00

I've spent part of the last two days carting recyclable cans and bottles and taking them back to stores for refunds. And I'm still not completely done.I guess I let the cans and bottle stack up for a while. I haven't bought any beer or soft drinks in months, and still I had a ton of cans and plastic bottles stacked up and tucked away.I hate taking the cans and bottles back. It takes so long and

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-25487169940037997782010-09-24T22:31:00.000-07:002010-09-24T22:53:06.520-07:00

It was not that long ago that I used to make a point of buying a lottery ticket every time one of the jackpots got big.Sure, I knew I wouldn't win, but I could still dream, right? I justified the expense, even on weeks and months where I was stressed about finding a way to eat until the next pay day, by saying it I got days worth of daydreaming about what I would do if I won. It cost less than a

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-74397842993553227502010-09-19T20:02:00.001-07:002010-09-19T20:28:31.722-07:00

My new hobby seems to be crunching numbers. I am learning how to prepare, and stick to, a personal budget. I seem to spend a lot of my evening and weekend hours working on spreadsheets and doing math.Some days I am looking for ways to pay off my debt as quickly as possible. Other days I am looking at the numbers to make sure my budget is practical and something I can live with for the foreseeable

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-52036184420870418782010-09-08T22:02:00.000-07:002010-09-08T22:45:32.872-07:00

The ol' wardrobe is threadbare. I was so relieved when summer started and I could start wearing short-sleeved shirts again, because I didn't have enough long-sleeved shirts to get me through the work week. The collars and cuffs of my shirts were worn out.Now, with summer seemingly making a very rabid departure, I realize I will soon need to do something about replacing some of my work clothes.

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-85975474087689021452010-09-07T22:21:00.000-07:002010-09-07T22:37:33.976-07:00

I've had this craving for a while and I can't shake it. That's probably because I don't know what I'm craving.I'm hungry, even when I'm full. I'm thirsty, even after drinking lots of water. It's as if my body -- my brain -- is missing something it absolutely must have. I just don't know what it is.It's driving me crazy. It's making me restless.I don't know how to handle this restlessness in my

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-2945744085749979692010-08-31T00:10:00.000-07:002010-08-31T00:21:16.362-07:00

For the record, being financially responsible is BORING!I'm going more than a bit stir crazy. Summer is ending, and I have a profound urge to be out doing stuff, attending festivals and fairs and celebrating the wonderful weather that is left. Instead I sit around plugging numbers into budget spreadsheets that tell me I don't have any discretionary funds.It sucks.It will be good once the bills

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-29427840264980758462010-08-23T22:38:00.000-07:002010-08-23T22:56:34.736-07:00

I'm beginning to notice a pattern. My mood falters and my confidence seems do wane at the end of the month. I start doubting my ability to stick to the plan I've laid out for getting out of debt.Maybe it's because the money between paychecks has to stretch the longest at this time of the month.I was actually ready to abandon my payoff plan in favor of a different payoff plan. Fortunately, in

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-79086739139404900262010-08-17T21:52:00.000-07:002010-08-17T22:02:02.560-07:00

I guess I should have been listening to Dr. Laura. It might have been fun to hear her say the N-word 11 times on nationally syndicated radio and then try to apologize for it.Maybe Dave Ramsey will be back on middays again on 1190 KEX AM, now that Dr. Laura says she won't renew her contract. (Read her blog post here and read her apology here.)

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-23010117910475329872010-08-16T18:35:00.000-07:002010-08-16T19:02:43.731-07:00

Portland, Ore., radio station KEX, 1190 AM, has been promoting a smart phone application for iheartradio lately, and they finally convinced me to use it more. I had downloaded the app for my phone, but had not really used it, until today.It was not the commercials for the app itself that led me to use it. It was the fact that KEX moved its Dave Ramsey Show broadcasts from midday to the 7 p.m.

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-28004743410317252892010-08-10T22:11:00.000-07:002010-08-10T22:21:58.389-07:00

I had hoped to start my 48-month debt payoff plan this month. I'm going to wait, though, until I rebuild my savings account.It looks like it will be at least next month, or perhaps the month after, before I get the savings account back where I want it and can start tackling the first account on my debt snowball.I'm not thrilled about that, but it seems to make more sense to do that than trying to

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-82662165591399966582010-08-09T22:09:00.000-07:002010-08-09T22:46:26.144-07:00

Me efforts to get out of debt have involved some lifestyle changes. The biggest one is that I rarely eat out anymore. For most people, that may not be much of an adjustment, but it was for me. I used to live on fast food and other restaurants.At one point I was actually convinced that eating out was cheaper than eating at home. My logic was based on a couple of points. One was that fresh food, on

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-49461671520378070972010-08-03T22:10:00.000-07:002010-08-05T00:37:51.364-07:00

Pay day is too far away and I'm out of everything in the house. I need to figure out how to do a budget.There just not enough money left after paying the credit cards and the regular monthly bills to pay for things like food, household supplies and car expenses. I get the stuff paid that I get sent bills for, and then there is nothing left, but still stuff I need.I am tired of this roller coaster

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-23431000272603731502010-07-28T18:40:00.000-07:002010-07-28T19:35:29.455-07:00

It's day 100 since the Gulf of Mexico oil spill began and BP has become a constant fixture on the nightly newscasts and in the morning papers and vilified on website, blogs and social networking sites. I don't know about you, but I have certainly changed my fuel buying habits since this crisis began.I've started buying my fuel again from ARCO gas stations. ARCO is owned by BP.So perhaps I am

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-2101623057190762222010-07-26T22:58:00.000-07:002010-07-26T23:26:16.160-07:00

I added a few links to the blog, including a debt reduction calculator. That find is pretty exciting, because it showed me in concrete terms when I can expect to get out of this hole I dug myself into.I've crunched the numbers a couple of times. If I can stick to the payment plan the calculator spells out, I could be completely out of debt in four years.Four years.It's exciting, and daunting, all

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-60172414459118769542010-07-22T22:50:00.000-07:002010-07-22T23:10:26.694-07:00

Writing this post is actually a delaying tactic. I'm stalling for time. I'm trying to work up the courage to do what I know I should do.While I've got pretty good in recent months about not using credit cards for miscellaneous purchases, I have only actually cut up one card, and that's the Chase card that is charging me obscene interest. The others I quit carrying and locked them away in a box.

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-45436645125652798402010-07-19T22:06:00.000-07:002010-08-30T21:59:19.114-07:00

I'm not sure I'm equipped to be in the dating pool in 2010.In reality, I'm not anywhere near the pool. I'm sort of outside the fence, looking in at the water and daydreaming about floating on the waves, while still being scared shitless to get dunked under and drown.I know I'm way past the bar scene, where I'd be more likely to come away with a hangover than a phone number. Friends have suggested

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-76089761305100118422010-07-17T09:00:00.000-07:002010-07-17T09:00:03.146-07:00

One of the key reasons I decided to start blogging again, particularly about dealing with my finances, is that I regularly find myself having a crisis of confidence. Am I'm making the right choices on my quest to get out of debt?I've been listening, when I can, to the Dave Ramsey radio show. That helps keep me focused. It also is a good reminder that I am not alone in dealing with problems of too

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-34232383260526203912010-07-15T21:57:00.000-07:002012-01-19T23:29:47.781-08:00

Congress passed a financial reform package today, and President Obama is expected to sign it, perhaps as early as next week. I'm nervous about what this will mean. That's not because I'm some big-wig investor or mega-bankers. I'm just a schmuck swimming in credit card debt. And the reason I'm scared is because the last time Congress clamped down on banks for their abusive practices on their

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-13132861363150086892008-12-29T23:04:00.000-08:002008-12-29T23:20:15.892-08:00

I had the strangest emotional reaction today. I followed a link on Twitter that led be to a website where I saw a name I recognized. The name was the husband of woman I dated in college. So I decided to read what he wrote.It was a poem. In it, he made a reference to sex. Of course I assumed the reference was to his wife. And what I felt shocked me. I felt a pang of jealousy.How could that be? Of

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-18004406611592504842008-06-05T23:30:00.000-07:002008-06-05T23:50:08.339-07:00

The C-word. Cancer. It seems to be everywhere lately.Someone very dear to me had surgery this week for breast cancer and I'm all out of sorts over it. If it's messing with my head this much, I can't even imagine how see is dealing with the stress and mental anguish of being the patient, let along coping with the physical assault on her body in the name of trying to get well.I also recently

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-89763961849278537292008-05-02T23:43:00.001-07:002008-05-02T23:54:10.255-07:00

I found this meter on my friend 3T's blog, so I decided to check it out. She had this Cuss-O-Meter on her blog that showed an 18.2 percent swear rate on her blog, with the needle just about reaching the red. So, being the perverse fuck I am, I figured I needed to rate my blog. At times I pride myself on being a foul-mouthed son of a bitch, capable of swearing enough to make sailors, marines and

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-85076304699515435022008-03-06T18:49:00.000-08:002008-03-06T19:45:34.388-08:00

I saw this March 3 Annie's Mailbox advice column today. I liked the advice Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar offered to "Perplexed in the Midwest," but people like "Perplexed" could use a little more information when choosing an engagement ring.Perhaps it's not too romantic to think about the practical aspect of money when trying to buy a ring intended to tell the woman you love you want to spend

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-68752675734022477452008-02-25T21:47:00.000-08:002008-02-25T23:15:31.389-08:00

At various times, I've written posts lamenting the fact that so many people find this blog by doing searches looking for the answer to the question of how long it takes to get over someone. Frankly, I've been annoyed that this blog's Google image is that of a breakup blog. But maybe Google knows something that even I don't.That's because here I am writing another breakup post.Back shortly before

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-81686202271088047182008-01-28T23:18:00.000-08:002008-01-28T23:54:22.176-08:00

I meant to post this days ago, but got sidetracked. I watched Garth Brooks' concert on Friday, Jan. 21, on CBS, which was part of one of 5 concerts he played over the weekend at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. As a long-time Garth Brooks fan, it pains me to say, but Brooks was not in prime form, or great voice. In fact, he was frequently off key.I admire the fact that the so-called retired

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-61106973852488405332008-01-23T22:48:00.000-08:002008-01-23T23:23:06.300-08:00

I've been sitting here, looking at a blank screen. Classic case of writer's block. I can't figure out what to say, or how to say it. But I've been feeling guilty for not having made a post in a week.I'm still here. Still breathing in and out. Just not good at tapping text out on the keys. I guess I need to clear out the cobwebs.But it's not just writer's block that has kept me from posting. I had

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-55261625296348443992008-01-16T00:41:00.000-08:002008-01-16T18:52:15.365-08:00

When I was in college I took a three-course sequence in music appreciation. The classes covered the genres of classical, folk and jazz music.I thought the classical music class would make me more sophisticated. I thought the jazz class would make me cooler. And I took the folk class because it was part of the sequence and needed to take it to fulfill the sequence for credit toward my liberal arts

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-84719269549674400992008-01-13T01:26:00.000-08:002008-11-14T00:20:15.487-08:00

She's a beautiful young woman. And there she was, in my dream. She's a former coworker. A friend. A woman I haven't worked with in years and who I haven't seen in almost a year. We never dated. We never shared a moment of intimacy in our life. But she showed up in my dream in a most intimate way.I don't remember much of the dream, but what I do remember has haunted me pleasantly for the last

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-30379122862432857722008-01-11T21:41:00.000-08:002008-01-11T22:04:14.482-08:00

Thanks, 3T, for pointing out my pathetic blogging habits of late. At least you admit that your efforts aren't any better.Actually, I've been spending a fair amount of time working on websites of late. Just not this one.Sorry.I'm not sure if I am ready to admit this or not, but those of you left reading this site are friends, so I guess I can admit that I have started a new blog. The new one, is

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-14700880318748743382008-01-06T23:55:00.000-08:002008-01-07T00:08:19.876-08:00

The date on the calendar says it's a new year, but something hasn't changed. I'm still dealing with insomnia.Obviously, I haven't been using the sleepless nights to make blog posts though. I did use the time to update some things on the blog. I added some iMixes through iTunes.But the rest of the time has been spent watching a lot of movies mostly late at night. During the work week, the insomnia

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-68815667007818877222008-01-02T02:20:00.000-08:002008-01-02T02:32:04.078-08:00

Happy New Year everyone. I hope your year is off to a fantastic start. I have to say, so far mine's been right fine. The holiday season has certainly been a bit busier than I'm used to, so I am sorry I haven't been around to post very much lately. But I thought I better check in and say howdy and let you all know I'm alive and well and survived the holiday season.I hope you had plenty of good

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-39769662766337098532007-12-25T00:53:00.000-08:002007-12-25T00:56:31.833-08:00

I hope this holiday finds you happy and well and enjoying special times with family or friends. I will be spending the day with members of my family.Sorry, I haven't been around much lately, but as I'm sure everyone is experiencing, it's been a busy time of year.I hope your holiday is busy in a good way!

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-34929809916465986002007-12-21T23:02:00.000-08:002007-12-21T23:10:52.527-08:00

Winter has official begun! Yippee!My favorite thing about winter is that once winter begins the days start getting longer again. I'm not quite sure why that matters to me so much, because sometimes I swear I'm part vampire and don't fully come to live until after sundown, no matter the season. But the reduced hours of daylight in the fall and winter months sap my energy, my spirit.Now that winter

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-7463286595165624502007-12-19T23:20:00.000-08:002007-12-20T00:13:13.701-08:00

The other day I was in a motel gift shop in Las Vegas. The town is obviously gearing up for the annual influx of new year's revelers coming to town. Among the trash and trinkets were a variety of souvenirs touting Las Vegas 2008. I won't be joining the Sin City celebrants, but seeing the souvenirs got me to thinking and I realize I need to come up with my own, personal and special way to say

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-74123133426536575732007-12-18T20:40:00.000-08:002007-12-19T01:53:15.825-08:00

I knew it was coming up, but wasn't really thinking about it. But when I checked the date after work, I realized the date had already past -- the third-year anniversary of Digital Fishwrap.It's not like it's one of the most significant dates on my calendar. There are holidays and birthdays and other people's anniversaries that are far more important. But if I were to be completely honest with

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-8769005849420607462007-12-17T19:14:00.000-08:002007-12-18T00:10:17.397-08:00

So, is everyone ready for Christmas? I'm certainly not. I haven't even started my shopping. Fortunately, I only going to get gifts for immediate family this year. That's all that -- and probably more than -- I can afford.I am not one of those people that's good at shopping for others. I need specific gift wish list ideas. If I have pre-approved options to choose from, I then feel a little more

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-38127098092771829222007-12-10T02:18:00.000-08:002007-12-10T02:20:23.878-08:00

Hey folks, I'm gonna be away from computers for the week. So you all behave yourselves. And if you can't, let me know where I can read all the details.Have a good week.

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-45761952801133002952007-12-06T21:48:00.000-08:002007-12-06T22:31:45.525-08:00

Friends,Sorry I haven't been around for a couple of days. As you may glean from my last post, I've had some personal, family stuff to deal with the last couple of days.Unfortunately, I'm not going to make it back to my grandmother's funeral. As I was starting to write that previous sentence, I was tempted to write that I "can't make it," but the truth of the matter is it came down to a choice and

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-20475912524550545782007-12-05T22:52:00.000-08:002007-12-19T02:02:23.107-08:00

Entire communities of my neighbors in Oregon and Washington have been under water this week. Lives, homes and business have been devastated just weeks before Christmas. Power and phone service is still out in many places.Given the ordeal so many are having to face, I'm fortunate to have a place to live that's warm and dry. For many, a sense of normalcy is weeks, maybe months away and who knows

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-56215144601282810212007-12-04T12:58:00.000-08:002007-12-18T00:11:25.716-08:00

My mom called this morning. My mom never calls. And she called me while I was at work no less. Usually, I figure if mom is calling there is news, generally bad news. But today I figured she was calling with details about a family trip we have scheduled for next week.It wasn't about the trip. It was news -- sad news.My grandmother -- her mother -- died this morning. In recent years my grandmother

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-58680833083754402562007-12-02T17:35:00.000-08:002007-12-02T17:54:50.872-08:00

The Oregon State Beavers will play in the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 28 against the Maryland Terrapins.The hopes of qualifying for the Holiday Bowl in San Diego didn't pan out as earlier today the Arizona State Sun Devils got the bid to play in that bowl.The Ducks will head to that exotic locale of El Paso for the Sun Bowl against South Florida.Where would you rather go for a holiday

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-49441323746220199802007-12-01T17:28:00.000-08:002008-12-10T05:20:58.513-08:00

I give credit to the Ducks. They brought more offense than I expected and made the Civil War Game a battle worthy of the long and intense rivalry that's now lasted for 111 games. It took two overtimes for the Beavers to win and snap a 10-year streak of the home teams winning.Bravo Beavs and kudos to the wounded Ducks for making it a great contest.Go Beavs!

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-38290639465699626352007-11-30T18:22:00.001-08:002007-11-30T20:12:41.859-08:00

We shared the same birthday, but I didn't know that as a kid. If I had known then, it probably would have made me admire him even more.When Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel was on TV, it was huge. Bigger than the Super Bowl or World Series to me. I never pictured myself competing in those venues. But when Evel Knievel, dressed in star-spangled leather, soared over the top of cars, or trucks or buses,

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-21301154300713535712007-11-30T17:55:00.000-08:002008-12-10T05:20:58.689-08:00

Received via e-mail today from a fellow Oregon State Beaver fan:Q: Why did University of Oregon head football coach Mike Bellotti make his players start eating their Wheaties straight out of the box?A: Because the Ducks choke whenever they get near bowls!I wish I knew who to credit for the joke and the accompanying graphic, because they are great.Tomorrow is Civil War Saturday. Go Beavs!

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-29704991798728472252007-11-29T21:31:00.000-08:002007-11-29T22:13:17.272-08:00

Wow, I can't believe that November is almost over already. I don't know about you, but I'm not ready for December and Christmas. I am living in denial about it actually. If I close my eyes and pretend it's not happening, maybe it will all go away for a while. Slow down the world, I need a little more time.Now that I've got that off my chest, I'm actually feeling pretty good about the fact that

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-10630927430996636062007-11-28T23:06:00.000-08:002007-11-29T00:00:10.342-08:00

I was having trouble coming up with a blog topic for today, so I opted to seek out a meme.This comes from the blog DailyThree.1. What temperature do you consider to be "cold" or when you would need to wear warm clothes?Anything below 60 degrees is cold for me, but that makes me sound like a wimp. Certainly anything below 50 gets cold. And any temperature where you can see your breath gets into

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-38855924354118510102007-11-27T23:51:00.000-08:002007-11-28T01:06:27.611-08:00

I was reading this blog post today from blog called "Beaver Boundary" congratulating the city of Eugene for reclaiming its spot as Oregon's second largest city from the state's capital city of Salem, according to population estimates by Portland State University. According to PSU's preliminary estimates, Eugene had 153,690 residents on July 1 and Salem had 151,895."Kudos to the people of Eugene,

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-18422562340767034782007-11-26T23:50:00.000-08:002007-11-27T00:41:59.623-08:00

When the state of Oregon joined the Union in 1859, the United States were becoming disunited and on the nation was rapidly heading toward civil war, the conflict forever known as the Civil War.Oregon signed on as a Union anti-slavery state and opposed to freed slaves moving in too, for that matter. You can decide for yourself how far the state's residents have evolved on that point for yourself.

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-14743639644777342262007-11-25T23:34:00.000-08:002007-11-25T23:49:15.623-08:00

Today marked a return to normalcy. The day was marked by the normal Sunday routines of watching football and doing laundry. OK, maybe it wasn't a completely normal Sunday, as there was no beer drinking while watching football.I'm feeling pretty well healed, but thought that my body didn't need to be abused in that manner today. Nothing exciting. But after being sick so so long and not having TV

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-11178064388657061262007-11-24T23:38:00.000-08:002007-11-25T00:06:57.863-08:00

The family has returned from their holiday festivities and my pet-sitting duties have ended. I've turned over the leashes and am now left alone in my apartment. I think I'm going to miss the cuddly company.Perhaps I read too much into it, but it was almost as if the critters knew our time was short today. The cats kept close to me today, taking turns napping on my lap or next to me on the couch.

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-27487357706369059642007-11-23T21:16:00.000-08:002007-11-23T21:34:56.368-08:00

I am beginning to feel like I'm finally on the mend. The cold or flu or whatever it was seems to finally be in retreat. I'm no longer living from dose to dose of cold medication. After days of getting by on the nourishment of one meal and glass after glass of orange juice and water, I am finally getting my appetite back.I didn't exactly have a traditional Thanksgiving, but after days of not

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-15768706792790059342007-11-21T23:38:00.000-08:002007-11-22T00:19:23.065-08:00

Perhaps I managed to sleep through it for a while, but immediately upon waking this morning I noticed a high-pitched, mechanical "chirp" outside my bedroom door. The intermittent sound was the annoying call of a dead battery in the smoke detector.OK, I admit I didn't do the whole safety thing that fire departments advise when you set your clocks for the time change, where you also change your

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-12664173739520366712007-11-20T21:25:00.000-08:002007-11-20T21:37:16.509-08:00

I thought I would be feeling better by now, but no such luck. There are points in the day where I feel almost human under the full bliss of the cold medication, and then soon after I start hacking and coughing so much that I end up pulling bronchial matter off my teeth.I'm so tired of this.I'm sure I've prolonged things by trying to work this week, which I should not have done. I know that now.

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-31938173489106408642007-11-19T23:22:00.000-08:002007-11-19T23:41:00.608-08:00

I strongly suspect this cold I'm suffering through may be more than a cold. I fully expected to be getting better by today, which didn't happen. If anything, it may be getting worse. The hacking cough and raw throat are an added joy compounding the overall misery.I have very little patience when I'm sick. I can be a very patient man, but times like these take it out of me. On my way home from

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-339623522596460232007-11-18T22:03:00.000-08:002007-11-20T00:02:55.633-08:00

Spending the weekend home alone and sick, without even a television for company makes me realize how much I rely on the television as a surrogate for socialization.I didn't get to hang out with my regular Sunday friends like Terry, Howie and Jimmy and Bob, Cris, Al and John, not to mention Faith. And the day has not been complete since I didn't get to cap it by spending quality time with my

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-3103370550405800562007-11-17T20:39:00.000-08:002007-11-20T00:02:55.635-08:00

As my friend Gene pointed out in his comment on my previous post, being down with a cold is a great time for feeling sorry for yourself. I am doing my best to elevate that to a high art today -- in between naps.I didn't have the most restful sleep last night, as my coughing and stuffy nose woke me up several times through the night, but I did manage to spend about 12 straight hours in bed. When I

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-59290572691945354942007-11-16T20:37:00.000-08:002007-11-20T00:02:55.636-08:00

I'm coming down with a cold. I started the day feeling fine, but this one came on fast. And it's already feeling like it's going to be a nasty one. Hopefully, it's not the deadly one.OK, maybe that's a bit melodramatic. But I get that way when I'm sick.Most of the time I'm fairly well adapted to being single. Not that it's always great and not that I always like it, but I'm used to it. But there

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-2589236785012093722007-11-15T23:13:00.000-08:002007-12-04T12:58:02.461-08:00

I got a call tonight from my mom. She and my dad are back home, with my uncle in tow. They got back from Nebraska today, where they took my grandmother. They got her checked out by a doctor who confirmed that my grandma is suffering from dementia. The doctor said it's not Alzheimer's disease. They also got her admitted to a nursing facility.But before she moved into her new home, an amazing thing

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-81137250864242061582007-11-14T23:52:00.000-08:002007-11-15T00:30:59.160-08:00

As I sit down to write this, it is a mere few minutes away from the start of Thursday, Nov. 15, the date set aside by the American Cancer Society for their 31st Great American Smokeout.In the past, I have attempted to kick my particular tobacco habit -- chewing tobacco -- during the Smokeout with some degree of success for the day, and subsequent days, But, obviously, I haven't kicked the habit.I

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-84339749047500918362007-11-13T22:17:00.000-08:002008-12-10T05:20:59.626-08:00

Depending on your perspective, the news today that Widmer Brothers Brewing and Red Hook Brewery are merging may be either a cause for a prost or a reason for microbrew aficionados to drown their sorrows.I was fortunate to come of age and develop a taste for beer, particularly Pacific Northwest microbrews, in the 1980s. I don't remember the first time I had a Red Hook ale or a Widmer Hefeweizen,

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-15701023474172239192007-11-12T23:27:00.000-08:002007-11-13T00:05:40.691-08:00

Since I spent nearly 8 hours on the road this weekend, driving between my current home here in Salem to my childhood home in Bum-Fuck-Egypt Eastern Oregon, I had a lot of time to kill, so used it to listen to some podcast episodes that have been piling up in my iPod.I listen to songs on shuffle a lot, so I was in the mood for something different. And different I got. I while back, before a trip I

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-78864823045719814762007-11-11T22:40:00.000-08:002007-12-04T12:58:02.465-08:00

My mom often used to say it during those times I was complaining about the seeming inequities of life as perceived by my then childish mind and screaming that she wasn't being fair. "Life is not fair," she would say. I didn't understand what that meant then. I thought I learned what that meant in the years since. But I had no idea what that really meant until today.A person should not have to

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-35084475923555336782007-11-10T00:10:00.000-08:002007-11-10T00:03:53.052-08:00

I consider myself a news junky, but I am so not paying any attention to the "campaigns" for president. The fricking general election is still a year away. I don't know what I'm doing for Thanksgiving yet, let alone who I will vote for next November.I'm not happy with the development that so many states are pushing their primaries up so early next year. As a former Californian, I certainly

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-40926698829499400862007-11-09T00:20:00.000-08:002007-11-10T00:04:06.875-08:00

Did you see Kellie Pickler's performance Wednesday night on the Country Music Association awards on ABC? It had to be the most dramatic live performance I've ever seen.Her music video for the song, while nice and very polished, lacks the power and raw emotion of her live performance.I am not an American Idol watcher, so I have not known why Kellie Pickler was since her appearance on there. I've

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-79372038281094234222007-11-08T23:15:00.000-08:002007-11-09T00:02:07.225-08:00

I need to rent a wife. No, not for THAT, but if THAT was part of the package, I wouldn't object.No, I need some new clothes, and I need a shopping consultant. OK, maybe I don't need to rent a wife, maybe I just need a stylist. But a stylist sounds so, well, so not me. OK, so I've never been married so, maybe having a wife, rented or otherwise, isn't me either.But I could use some help in picking

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-52071329913101243432007-11-07T21:59:00.000-08:002007-12-04T12:58:02.478-08:00

It's only about a four-hour drive, but I have a feeling the next time I make it it's going to seem a whole lot longer.This weekend I will probably be driving to my parent's house to say goodbye to my grandmother, a woman so important to my early life and who now I don't know nearly as well as I should. Worse yet, she usually doesn't know me at all when I do see her. At 93, her memory and her body

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-53869652518727955552007-11-06T23:17:00.000-08:002007-11-06T23:31:37.893-08:00

I never got around to mailing in my ballot, so I had to take it to an official drop-off location in order to ensure my vote was tallied today. In this age of concerns about identity fraud and the sanctity of the ballot box, Oregon's system is a joke.For one thing, the ballot envelope you have to return has your name and address on the outside and it also requires you to sign the outside of the

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-244998730345568862007-11-05T23:21:00.000-08:002007-11-05T23:35:46.543-08:00

So, what happened to all that daylight time we saved? Shouldn't we have enough banked, with interest, so that we could spend a little now and people who leave work at 5 p.m. wouldn't have to endure driving home after sunset? Obviously they are not up to the task.Today was the first workday following the time change and it appeared to me that workday commuters here in Salem seemed to be having

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-1843379219339398342007-11-04T21:26:00.000-08:002007-11-15T00:57:54.497-08:00

I was supposed to play in a second round of an online poker tournament yesterday. I had been looking forward to it all week. In addition to boasting about it on this blog, I had even told some friends and coworkers about it.But what did I do when tournament day arrived?I slept through the start of the tournament.I though the tournament was starting in the afternoon. It trying to convert East

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-66282150547539074302007-11-03T22:36:00.001-07:002007-11-03T22:37:15.632-07:00

OK, I'm running out of time for a post today, so I will keep this short. I messed up on my poker tournament today. Details to come.

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-88765743870975333192007-11-02T01:34:00.000-07:002008-12-10T05:20:59.962-08:00

It's almost Election Day here in Oregon, but I'm not a big fan of our state's vote-by-mail elections. I voted in my first election in this state when I was 18. I remember the pride of registering to vote and in going to the polls to cast my first ballot. I've felt that same pride many times since then.When I was a California resident, it was common to get a sticker on Election Day that read "I

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-80133985575536443892007-11-01T00:39:00.000-07:002007-11-01T00:57:42.342-07:00

In honor of National Blog Posting Month (and because I'm far too lame to attempt to participate in National Novel Writing Month) I am going to attempt for 31 straight days to make at least one blog post every day.Given the fact that prior to this post I have only written 62 posts all frickin' year, that may be a bit overly optimistic. But I have been attempting to put a little starch back into

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-51699940082967025692007-10-31T23:53:00.000-07:002007-11-01T00:26:32.649-07:00

I stopped off on my way to work for a cup of coffee and an Egg McMuffin and Ron's place and was perplexed for a bit by the young woman who handed me my Caffeine McCholesterol.I instantly recognized the item hanging around her neck as a stethoscope. My brain was not so quick to figure out why the woman in drivethru might also potentially ask me to turn my head and cough. I just figured that maybe

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-63109327027176978742007-10-31T01:03:00.001-07:002007-10-31T01:36:57.003-07:00

I don't visit bars as much as I did back in my 20s, or even my 30s, but there is something unbeatable about just the right bar.Sometime I have a craving for a neighborhood hangout, a little hole in the wall spot where the bartenders and waitresses know your order and have your drink waiting for you by the time you reach your bar stool.Other times, I have a craving for a sports bar, a place to

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-6961993647842513622007-10-29T23:12:00.000-07:002007-10-30T00:38:04.644-07:00

I noticed the change on my way home from work. The sign on the Shell gas station reader board spelled out the bad news. Gas is over $3 a gallon.The reason it jumped out at me is because when I drove to work this morning I made note of the price on the same sign at the same gas station. The price, on the day the price of a barrel of oil closed at a record high over $93.50, also went up about 7

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-14359161374203585212007-10-29T00:10:00.000-07:002007-10-29T00:52:45.618-07:00

I'm nothing if not a follower. I've followed the crowd onto the poker craze bandwagon. I haven't become a fanatic about it, but I do occasionally enjoy watching television coverage of professional poker tournaments and play poker now and again online. I even checked out one of the local poker leagues in town once, but haven't made it back to play anymore live games. I like to play the game but am

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-37856504670271151462007-10-25T01:09:00.001-07:002007-10-25T01:24:06.464-07:00

The insomnia is back.For several nights now I've found myself still awake well after 3 or 4 in the morning. It's been damn hard to fall asleep and even more difficult to get up when the alarm goes off in the morning.I got comfortable on the couch this evening after work, the exhaustion taking over. Sleep came easy enough then, but it didn't last long. I got maybe a half our of rest before I was

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-74526468571194875412007-10-18T22:25:00.000-07:002007-11-16T00:15:46.456-08:00

My morals are slipping.Money has been tight lately. Very tight. Extremely tight. So tight that this week I found myself with my bank balances at zero. I've been raiding the coin jar to pay for food all week. Fortunately there was a stockpile of quarters in the jar from the days I was collecting them to use the coin-operated machine in the laundry room. The next option was to collect cans for the

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-27752794535943816232007-10-18T00:59:00.000-07:002007-11-16T00:29:26.702-08:00

So, I know Einstein had a theory about how time moves slower or something if you are hauling ass at the speed of light. I can't say I really understand it. But I do know that time does some pretty freaky shit even when you are sitting on your ass on the couch.When I was in college, young and impatient, a few weeks or months without any dating life seemed like an eternity. There were different

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-68572761817902638352007-10-16T23:11:00.000-07:002007-10-16T23:25:16.193-07:00

Well, I'm getting nearer to my long-time goal of becoming a professional blogger. I finally have a PayPal account, which would allow me to accept donations from the legions of fans that happen across my blog.I also recently signed up for a Skype account, which seemed to be the online communication software of choice for international bloggers, podcasters and vloggers.It would be ideal. I've been

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-91092953425984559332007-10-02T23:43:00.000-07:002007-10-03T00:23:18.352-07:00

The weather has turned chilly and gray, and it's put me in a bit of a funk. I'm not ready for the dreary, wet winter weather that will predominate the months between now and, um, June.When I got home from work and running an errand, the heavy cloud cover made it look as if the sun was already setting for the day. That made me realize that daylight saving time would be ending soon, which has the

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9657443.post-75002954836301612442007-09-23T22:29:00.000-07:002007-09-23T22:59:22.989-07:00

I looked at the date on my watch today and realized that September is almost over and it is now officially fall. This month has gone so fast. I was not ready for autumn's arrival, but the signs that it was coming have been apparent for a while now. Shorter, cooler days. Some trees are already changing color. There has been some rain.Fall can be a beautiful season in Oregon, but here in the

The G-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12493905713906243809noreply@blogger.com2