Beautiful outside. Not too hot. Did 3 miles of the Relay before conking out due to my blood sugar being low. I should have eaten before. Least I lasted the hour. Now back to work.

Well today is going to be nuts. Well in a couple of hours I will be walking a track for about an hour and a half for the "Relay for Life" with our company's team. Afters, I will be heading back to work for about another hour and half of end of the month processing. Hopefully, tomorrow will be somewhat quiet ... in theory.

YEAH YEAH SO THEIR MARRIED NOW

Personally, I'm wondering what that kid in the lower left is thinking. I mean like. "Blimey, I'm bored!"

Note to self - high fiber dinner not a good idea. That is all.

Storm



photo by Adam Brimer

Survived last nights storm. The worse I have seen a long time .. wind, lightning, and hail stones. My car wasn't so lucky it is now pummeled with dings that to be honest I am not going to have repaired, because what is the point.
I have an idea we are going to see many of these kinds of weather patterns in the coming months.
So likely ... more dings. My power was only off  for a couple of seconds.

Dream

Went back to sleep at 7am after waking up at 5:45am. Had a weird dream were for some reason I went to visit my coworker, and I had to borrow a moving truck from the now defunct construction company I used to work for when I was a late teen early 20s. Also even though I know my coworker lives in the country in the middle of nowhere his house in the dream was his parents, and I seemed more of an kind of intrusion than exactly welcomed. I finally went to leave, but the trucks engine had blow in front and back ... yeah, it apparently had "two engines". Everything was removed from the back of the truck which seemed to be computer terminals and furniture from a bank or something. Then when I called mom to get a ride home it came a blizzard, and it seemed I was stuck, but mom showed up anyway. The dream was much more detailed than this but this is the base of the story.

I have a strange feeling that the carpet got temporarily yanked from under me.
Those top of the world moments that come crashing down in an instant.
Goes to show perhaps show faith in what you know, and less in what you don't ... pretty much logical. Work was ok today, but not exactly pleasant for some moments had this tension that I'm not a fan of ... especially when it isn't necessary, and it's over something most likely petty. My girlfriend is sitting in her house with no power since yesterday afternoon. I would be having someones head. I have work in the morning, a "charity" event mid afternoon this weekend on top of monthend processing for afters, and I'm not thrilled about that at all.

Tomorrow however is another day.

The weekend wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was afraid that after all the dancing I did I would be feeling some major soreness, but no. Yesterday, I was off, and so was the power the later half of the day for at least 4 hours due to a really nasty thunderstorm with very high winds. I hear most of the power in residential areas was out. So, I was lucky with just 4 hours.

Doctor Who Season 6

THE DOCTOR COMES TO AMERICA CIRCA 1969

I was fortunate enough to be able to see episode 1 of season 6 on the day it was released. My overall reaction was that it was excellent. It covered the "gambit of emotions" ending in a cliffhanger. I'm looking forward to next weekends episode.

Wow, last night was the most dancing I have done thus far. This morning after only 4 hours sleep (if that much) I am slightly sore and achy. Today, is Easter Sunday. In a couple of hours me and Ann are headed to see my family for Easter lunch. Then, I'm not sure. It looks fantastic outside.

Look at the settings, point the camera, and shoot!

It looks like I learned more about the settings on my digital camera this last weekend than I have in the last 4 years. That new fast lens has allowed for some experimentation that previously I just wasn't to thrilled about. I can pretty much look at the settings view screen on the top right of the camera, and not even look through the view finder. Just point at the subject, and shoot with a pretty good chance at a successful picture. I feel a lot more confident about the end product of my photography now. I still have no desire to go professional. I will stay "amateur" for now.

I'm in Virginia this weekend helping my girlfriend clean out some of her father's things. He died of a heart attack back towards the end of last year. She is going through all the stuff, and bagging it up for Goodwill, and I am working on her mother's computer to make it more usable for her. It has been a kind of grey day outside thus far. All the spare time has let me pull my camera out, and do some serious studies on aperture and shutter speed ... I am beginning to finally understand all of this crap. I want to really get comfortable with my more advanced camera before considering doing any new "people" photography. Well other than that we are just prepping the house for her mom. Might get out tomorrow, and go to some sites perhaps.

Started my morning with a diet coke, and having to apologize for being an idiot. It is hard sometimes to gather a persons meaning without talking to them in person. Email, blogs, social networking are just writing, and can really become a mess if meaning and understanding get lost in the fray. Being a person of a degree of low self esteem and a introvert I tend to generalize on the negative instead of the positive possibilities first. Been hurt a lot over the last 30 years by various sources, and my trust level in most people is minimal.

I was looking at my can of "Dust Destroyer" sitting on my computer desk. It has the following symbol on the side. It looks to be like this stuff could destroy half the planet if used improperly. A very risque product if you ask me.

Random Childhood Memories

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde

by Mark Byars

I have a friend with a personality disorder. OCD is the least of his problems. He can't show genuine anger without being intoxicated. His problem seems almost a Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde personality, and being trapped in a loop of a sort. Religion seems to play a part in both his personas obviously in contradiction to one another. As Dr.Jekyll, he is typically calm, pacifist, highly moral actually ridiculously so, and is a wonderful conversationalist. As Mr.Hyde he is allowed to show anger, malice, and lack of reasoning thus satiating the emotions that normally he would never show in his sober form. In the form of Hyde he can become violent, and a danger to others. Hyde is angry at God for not bringing him the "goods" of life. Dr. Jekyll on the other side is morally sanctimonious, thoughtful, and also guilt ridden.
He essentially is good vs. evil in a battle trapped in a loop that never sees an end. As Jekyll he can't without the aid of an intoxicant achieve the emotion of anger that builds within over time. We all display a wide variety of emotion, but to normally not be able to show anger or other negative emotions without inducements is a terrible thing indeed.
He once asked me, "Mark, what am I mad about?!"
I now know the answer now. "Your mad because when you should be getting angry "normally" ... you don't." "It builds up." "Like a bomb."
The release is Mr.Hyde, malice and rage granted by means of "the magic potion". The alcohol isn't the addiction. It is what it does, or no ... what it allows to come within.
Freedom at a price.
A cycle is created. Jealousy and resentment build, alcohol, explosive anger, crash, guilt, repentance, then jealousy and resentment build up, alcohol, explosive anger, crash, guilt and repentance ... rinse and repeat. His own denial of this cycle dooms him. Chased into the woods by metaphorical villagers with pitchforks and torches seemingly forsaken by God, the "wish granter" that never comes through for him with the idealistic life.

I'm back to work today. Tuesday evening was the worst of the swelling on my knee, but it went down yesterday, but it felt like I was running a low level fever all day long. Woke up this morning sweating like my body was trying to throw off poisons in it or something. Seem to be a bit temp sensitive today.

Feeling icky today. It's raining hard outside, and my damn knee has gone out. My manager even says he feels extra tired for some reason. All the moons are aligned right I suppose for all of us in my office to feel like crap. I was supposed to go do lawn work late this afternoon, but that appears to not going to be happening. Not much on the slate other than that I guess. I might work on some airplane pictures I took on the weekend. I might post one here.

Sucker Punch

The movie was like a Sucker Punch it landed with a  pow, and then was gone by the end leaving you to nurse a wound. Yesterday, I saw the movie Sucker Punch which I could only describe as a "steampunkish power to chicks" film. Not really a guy film to be honest. It does have some great fight scenes during the film, but by the end the trade off seemed a bit unfair to the main character. I didn't hate the movie by any means, but it just came up so damn short. Unfinished business one might say.
I am looking forward to seeing the movie Hanna ... synopsis, Raised by her father, an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland, Hanna's upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets. PG-13.

Randoms

Seriously tired today. I took my benadryl too late, and didn't get to bed when I should have. A bad combo. Looks like I might be napping in the car during lunch. Got a lot to do this weekend. Some for work, and then going to Temple's 80s night Saturday evening. Then yard work Sunday. I figure I am going to be doing some major napping after work tomorrow.
Oh yeah, on a news front it looks like those GOP double crossing assholes in Washington are going to shut the government down of course it won't hurt them just the middle class their favorite target. GOP the party that can trick many of the poor and middle class in America to "eat shit ... and like it!" Then again these Americans are quote ... embarracingly stupid. The GOP in Washington are "assholes".


woob woob woob!

Management Strategies

by Mark Byars

    I wonder at times if I managed people how I would do it exactly. I'm not exactly a "people person" at times to be honest. The one thing top on my list though is to treat people like they have a brain (even if they may not). Second, games are for children. For many employees trying to "make things fun" equates to an insult to their intelligence, and their age. A feeling of importance for an employee mainly arises from a balance of professionalism and reasonably. Balance being the key word. There are going to be times that things are going to be "boring" by there very nature, and trying to put icing on a turd is not going to make it taste any better. In the end people go to a job not because it is their life, but because they owe money, pay bills, and want money for "stuff" not to make their lives a sun shiny day.
However, at the same time the work environment that causes stress and even mental illness has to be looked both broadly, and pin point. Stress causes work place inefficiency. No job is perfect, but certain obstacles are avoidable.
    Another management concept is that of project managing of employees. Do you just say "here's what I need you to do", and then come around every other day saying "how it coming along" like your putting the employee to the test. That is the workplace equivalent of "Are we there yet" from kids. Instead when you come up with a project make a starting point and and end point date that you find reasonable, and leave the employee to it. If they disagree with the time frame let them voice it so that you can reason it out  with them, and if you find their reasoning just then make the adjustment. If they don't finish the project on time as agreed then call them on the carpet on it however the situation needs to be. This strategy is mainly for simple projects. For major project, especially team ones being the loop daily is essential.
The bottom line is to not send mixed signals to your employee creating unnecessary stress that can hamper the level of their work quality.

Randoms

Had a stomach flu Monday that was very unpleasant. Went back into work Tuesday, but still felt bad. Today it is Linda G's birthday at work, and it appears that at least today I am probably breaking some of my diet. This is day two without Diet Coke. I am drinking black coffee instead, and lots of water during the day. I am supposed to have lost 20 lbs before the end of July. Had Laurie C. ask me yesterday about my painting whether I did it regularly, or just every now and then. I said I did it as the mood and feelings pressed me to do so. I had a huge blank canvas for two years before I restarted painting again.
Sometimes it takes me a while to get myself going again. It can't be forced ... abstract expressionism that is forced looks like it was forced.
Daily News. Government Shutdown Looming. It appears that the GOP is allowing a small minority of folks (Tea Party) to govern their choices. Every time they seem like they are going to make a deal with the Democrats they yank it out at the last second. The GOP  are like childhood bullies. I doubt they will let the Government shutdown, but more likely fix something at the last minute. If they do let the government shut down it won't be for any length of time. Either way they look like assholes.
The stuff they are wanting to cut from the budget isn't significant enough other than to score political points for the right wing fringe minority. Who want the government to shutdown, because they are paranoid morons.
Ok, on to of this some of the GOP are questioning Obama's airstrikes against Libya, which is probably not going to go anywhere, but with their fringe members. Sen. Bob Corker from TN is wanting a hearing on the issue. Personally, it comes off as last minute grasping for anything, very childish, and speculation ... not that the right wing fringe doesn't eat that stuff up it does. However, they are an example of why this country's mental health system is a shambles. The Republican Party is still trying to light a fire with two plastic baggies of water, and a bar of soap.
Glenn Beck Leaving Fox News. Thank you Jesus. It is about time this wacko was taken off the air, and it wasn't that he didn't still draw crowds (which is disconcerting by the way) it was because he couldn't get enough sponsors during his shows time slot other than "survival nut" late night kind of crap, and gold. He's down, but not out by a long shot. He still has that damn talk radio spot where he can flaunt his end of world shit.
Well enough news. Ended up waking up an hour and a half early this morning for some reason. I think I ate too late. I am feeling better now that I have the Diet Coke out of my system. My weekend is currently up in the air. May go to Temple Night or may not. It's 80s night, and I have no 80s clothing. Well to be honest I wore mainly blue jeans and plaid shirts or polo shirts during the 80s. I did have a Members Only jacket, and a couple of Izod shirts with the alligator on them before they got sued. I suppose other than the lack of a pocket protector I was a nerd of a sort back then. That was how I fly back then.