The time has long since passed that I should have blogged. Fortunately, with a simple post I can catch up! To be fair though, to catch up in a single post would require more pages of reading than anyone would be interested to read.
Short version then... quit my job mid 2015, bummed around a bit with short term contract jobs, bought a boat, got tired of the life I was living and spent a weekend in prayer and meditation. Monday morning, mid July 2016, God sent a job offer in Nashville and I accepted. I'm currently going to Church on the Rock in Nashville, which was God's answer to my prayers. My work is hard and rewarding as I develop my patience and discipline.
And I managed to keep the post short! I will hopefully post more details in the future.
Saturday, March 09, 2019
Monday, April 21, 2014
Couchsurfing
Time for celebration! Back in January, I moved into my new place beachside. To enumerate my excitement: 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, livingroom, dining room, kitchen, porch, and a 2 car garage.
Now that Katie and I are living in separate places, it is a lot quieter in the evenings here. I'm looking around my room enjoying the peace and quiet, but also missing all the time I get to spend with Wyatt, Katie, and Christina. Life moves on, but I will always hold all the times that I lived with family a little more closely.
In other news, I have couchsurfers again! Right after I opened my doors again, I had 4 couchsurfers come through, but I haven't gotten any requests in the last few weeks. This down time has given me a chance to start getting my house and life back into a rhythm. I'm still working on it. I have a lot of pictures to go through. I'll save that for another evening though.
Now that Katie and I are living in separate places, it is a lot quieter in the evenings here. I'm looking around my room enjoying the peace and quiet, but also missing all the time I get to spend with Wyatt, Katie, and Christina. Life moves on, but I will always hold all the times that I lived with family a little more closely.
In other news, I have couchsurfers again! Right after I opened my doors again, I had 4 couchsurfers come through, but I haven't gotten any requests in the last few weeks. This down time has given me a chance to start getting my house and life back into a rhythm. I'm still working on it. I have a lot of pictures to go through. I'll save that for another evening though.
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| Hasn't seen any of my movies. Ended up with Princess Bride. A classic! |
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Sadness for a Time - a Very Short Time
At this moment, my heart feels broken. Nearly every day for the last 10 years I have called my mom on the phone and talked to her. Our conversations lasted about 30 minutes. Most of the time we had nothing new to discuss so we just visited and enjoyed eachother's company. I have had the pleasure to have Mom living with me for the last 6 months. She has always wanted to spend time with her children and grandchildren and it seemed like the perfect chance to do so this year.
Surrounded by family, my mom has passed away May 12th. She had a green burial at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery in Gainesville, FL
This evening, I let myself dwell on the plans Mom had: to live with me, to babysit for Katie, to take Christina and Wyatt to the beach and to the playground, to sit face to face with her kids and grandkids every day, to simply enjoy being close and in our lives.
I rarely think about these plans though. I only did it now because I wished to tell the saddness of my heart when I look at Mom's earthly losses. But, Mom had no doubts about her saviour Jesus Christ and she had her eyes focused on God. I also know, without a doubt, that she is in heaven with God and I cannot work myself into feeling a great sense of loss when I know how happy she is. My hope in God is true and I have peace and satisfaction about where my mom is right now.
By the grace of God, the Lord has opened the eyes of my heart when I think about Mom's new life. How can I do anything but praise when I see her shouting for joy in the temple of God. I feel nothing but thanksgiving and praise and love towards God who made all things possible through Christ. God is Good. My Hope is true.
Surrounded by family, my mom has passed away May 12th. She had a green burial at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery in Gainesville, FL
This evening, I let myself dwell on the plans Mom had: to live with me, to babysit for Katie, to take Christina and Wyatt to the beach and to the playground, to sit face to face with her kids and grandkids every day, to simply enjoy being close and in our lives.
I rarely think about these plans though. I only did it now because I wished to tell the saddness of my heart when I look at Mom's earthly losses. But, Mom had no doubts about her saviour Jesus Christ and she had her eyes focused on God. I also know, without a doubt, that she is in heaven with God and I cannot work myself into feeling a great sense of loss when I know how happy she is. My hope in God is true and I have peace and satisfaction about where my mom is right now.
By the grace of God, the Lord has opened the eyes of my heart when I think about Mom's new life. How can I do anything but praise when I see her shouting for joy in the temple of God. I feel nothing but thanksgiving and praise and love towards God who made all things possible through Christ. God is Good. My Hope is true.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Running My Fourth 5K Race This Year!
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| I have the best nephews! Who can resist this face! |
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| Getting sleepy. |
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| I have great nieces. Christina loves to have her picture taken. |
I also have a match.com account. I know a few people who have met their significant other through match.com and I was curious enough to sign up an try it. restfulredhead is my tag. I know, I know. It wouldn't let me use redheaddebater because my E-mail uses the same word.
And... a website redheaddebater.com. It is very rough and doesn't have much on it, but I will try to make it interesting.
The last few evenings, my mom and I have listened to sermons in the evening, and fallen asleep listening to an audio bible. Anytime I listen or read the Bible a lot, my reaction tends to be, "Why did I stop this?" I find meditation on God's Word to be my favorite activity, but I always get busy and attend my own projects. I know God loves me, and wishes to have fellowship with me. How Cool Is That! How Amazing!
Tomorrow I have a 5K race in Oromond Beach called the Holiday Run Challenge, or perhaps the Run For Missions Challenge... I'm not sure of the name. My next race is either a 10K or a half marathon. I am a bit nervous to try a half marathon, so a 10K will likely be next. I am looking forward to a four-day weekend. With Mom, I plan to go through ALL of my social accounts, blogs, websites and update them. Tomorrow is also a day to go through the garage and throw a lot out hopefully.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Moving to a New Rental in Daytona Beach - part 1
Without further ado, I present you with pictures of the new rental in Daytona Beach that my sister and I are moving into... this weekend. I also included some picture of the always active, never boring, Wyatt and Christina!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Fun Youtube video
I saw this video linked on Slashdot and enjoyed the tune and video so much that I wanted to share the video with the world! Actually, there was a longer post planned about SOPA and rights and.... but it's late, so I just want to see if I can insert a youtube video. Enjoy!
Edit: Success! Does anyone know who the singers are that show up at 1:10 and 1:48? Whoever is singing at 1:48 has a magnificent voice. I have trouble believing that anyone can sing on pitch that well. Amazing!
EDIT: The singer at 1:48 is Kim Dotcom, the owner of MegaUpload. He used an Auto-Tune'r to sing on pitch.
EDIT2: MegaUpload has been shut down by the US Government for racketeering, money laundering, and criminal copyright infringement. I may or may not post more on this, but the case is ludicrous. OK. just one item.... nevermind. It turned into a 2 paragraphs of educational information about copyright and MegaUpload.
Edit: Success! Does anyone know who the singers are that show up at 1:10 and 1:48? Whoever is singing at 1:48 has a magnificent voice. I have trouble believing that anyone can sing on pitch that well. Amazing!
EDIT: The singer at 1:48 is Kim Dotcom, the owner of MegaUpload. He used an Auto-Tune'r to sing on pitch.
EDIT2: MegaUpload has been shut down by the US Government for racketeering, money laundering, and criminal copyright infringement. I may or may not post more on this, but the case is ludicrous. OK. just one item.... nevermind. It turned into a 2 paragraphs of educational information about copyright and MegaUpload.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Hitchhikers Are Always Unique
Due to very urgent work demands, I was going into work early Tuesday morning. 3 AM early. And in a dark part of the road I barely saw a hand waving on the side of the street. Always willing to lend assistance to a hitchhiker, I braked quickly and pulled off the road. As the hitchhiker drew closer to the car, I pulled my wallet, phone, window shade, old Taco Bell bag, and various napkins off the front seat into other less obtrusive areas. By the time I had pulled everything off and the hitchhiker was getting to the door, I had put on my smiling face reserved for friendly strangers. (Not a creepy smile! Really!) As the lady (we'll call her Ramona) got into my car, she said 'Thanks, I live along beach street with my daughter, you're not a cop are you?' Her speech was very slurred as though she was very drunk with alcohol. I smiled and said, "Nope. Where can I drop you off at?" As she closed the door and finished settling she asked for a cigarette and I said I didn't smoke. By this time I had re-relocated my wallet with a bunch of loose dollar bills from the dashboard to one of the many pockets in my work pants. I started the car moving forward and she said that if we find somewhere quiet we can get together if I have 40 bucks. As I continued my drive over the bridge, I smiled, lightly chuckled and said the I would pass for tonight.
She assured me that she doesn't normally do this but she is just doing it tonight once to .... something about taxi home. (keep in mind. She is a bit hard to understand with her slurring.) I smiled some more and asked again if there is anywhere I can drive her. She asked me to just drop her off at the Chicken place up ahead on ----- so she can keep looking for a guy because more people will be passing the chicken place. (The chicken place is only about 3 to 4 blocks away, but considering how cold it was, I wouldn't pass up a free drive.) About a block away from the chicken store Ronda says that she has time to do ..slur.. smaller. She again mentions that she's just visiting and isn't normally like this. That her boob job was 3 grand. By this point I pulled off the road into the entryway of the chicken store. She asks if I would like to touch them. After I decline to touch her boob job and decline yet again even a small offer for her time. As Ronda started opening the car door, I rifle through my wallet and give her 40 dollars and tell her that I hope the rest of the night goes well for her.
She was a bit confused at that point and asked if I was just giving that to her?
"Sure. Have a great night."
I didn't want to find somewhere quiet or something?
"No, that's fine, it is just a gift since you said you needed 40." I give a small shrug.
She asks if I can take her farther up ------ to the first gas-station.
"Sure."
Ronda closes my car door again and we head off into the night yet again. As we turned onto -----, she said the first gas station is on the left before the next light and she and can call a cab. (Definitely a local if she knows about a gas station 5 or 6 blocks farther along.) As I drive from the Chicken store she makes a few successful attempts to not throw up on my car floor. She tells me that she is very drunk. (No! I would have never guessed!) As I pulled in to the gas station, Ronda said she was going to call a taxi to go home, and she asked two or three times, even as she was getting out of the car, that I watch to make sure she got into the gas station safely. She got out and went around the front corner of the store (I parked on the side). I backed up and pulled ahead to the front and waited to make sure she got inside alright. I don't think that the convenience store clerk would have let her in if I hadn't been idling, watching. Either he thought I was a crazy stalker of drunks or that I knew the lady and was making sure she got home safely. From his body language, he seemed to relax a bit when he saw me and then opened the door, and I got the impression that the attendant thought I knew the lady and was just making sure she was safe. The lady waved a little and I took that as my cue to fade into the sunrise.
Ronda was a master of phrasing. Even through the slur, I could clearly understand what she wanted. Even though she never directly mentioned sex, she phrased it in such a way that her intent was clear when she made her proposition. I wish I could remember her exact wording. I can't remember the exact words, just the enjoyment in the clever wording she used.
I was also a bit slow off the mark. Had I been less sleepy and a bit quicker on the uptake I would have offered to drop her off near her house. I doubt she would have taken me up on the offer, but I wish I would have offered.
Where I live, I get a lot of homeless coming up to me and asking for money. All of them ooze insincerity: a child is sick, need money to get back north, a police conspiracy, etc. Only one couple, apparently homeless, ever seemed sincere ( and I later saw that they used my gift for what they said they would use it for). Oddly enough. Romona seemed sincere in that she was only going to get enough money to get a taxi home.
She assured me that she doesn't normally do this but she is just doing it tonight once to .... something about taxi home. (keep in mind. She is a bit hard to understand with her slurring.) I smiled some more and asked again if there is anywhere I can drive her. She asked me to just drop her off at the Chicken place up ahead on ----- so she can keep looking for a guy because more people will be passing the chicken place. (The chicken place is only about 3 to 4 blocks away, but considering how cold it was, I wouldn't pass up a free drive.) About a block away from the chicken store Ronda says that she has time to do ..slur.. smaller. She again mentions that she's just visiting and isn't normally like this. That her boob job was 3 grand. By this point I pulled off the road into the entryway of the chicken store. She asks if I would like to touch them. After I decline to touch her boob job and decline yet again even a small offer for her time. As Ronda started opening the car door, I rifle through my wallet and give her 40 dollars and tell her that I hope the rest of the night goes well for her.
She was a bit confused at that point and asked if I was just giving that to her?
"Sure. Have a great night."
I didn't want to find somewhere quiet or something?
"No, that's fine, it is just a gift since you said you needed 40." I give a small shrug.
She asks if I can take her farther up ------ to the first gas-station.
"Sure."
Ronda closes my car door again and we head off into the night yet again. As we turned onto -----, she said the first gas station is on the left before the next light and she and can call a cab. (Definitely a local if she knows about a gas station 5 or 6 blocks farther along.) As I drive from the Chicken store she makes a few successful attempts to not throw up on my car floor. She tells me that she is very drunk. (No! I would have never guessed!) As I pulled in to the gas station, Ronda said she was going to call a taxi to go home, and she asked two or three times, even as she was getting out of the car, that I watch to make sure she got into the gas station safely. She got out and went around the front corner of the store (I parked on the side). I backed up and pulled ahead to the front and waited to make sure she got inside alright. I don't think that the convenience store clerk would have let her in if I hadn't been idling, watching. Either he thought I was a crazy stalker of drunks or that I knew the lady and was making sure she got home safely. From his body language, he seemed to relax a bit when he saw me and then opened the door, and I got the impression that the attendant thought I knew the lady and was just making sure she was safe. The lady waved a little and I took that as my cue to fade into the sunrise.
Ronda was a master of phrasing. Even through the slur, I could clearly understand what she wanted. Even though she never directly mentioned sex, she phrased it in such a way that her intent was clear when she made her proposition. I wish I could remember her exact wording. I can't remember the exact words, just the enjoyment in the clever wording she used.
I was also a bit slow off the mark. Had I been less sleepy and a bit quicker on the uptake I would have offered to drop her off near her house. I doubt she would have taken me up on the offer, but I wish I would have offered.
Where I live, I get a lot of homeless coming up to me and asking for money. All of them ooze insincerity: a child is sick, need money to get back north, a police conspiracy, etc. Only one couple, apparently homeless, ever seemed sincere ( and I later saw that they used my gift for what they said they would use it for). Oddly enough. Romona seemed sincere in that she was only going to get enough money to get a taxi home.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Another Couchsurfing post
Time for some new couchsurfer pictures! The first picture is that of janna and fenja (Germany). Some wonderful couchsurfers that came for a few days over New Years. Very laid back. Definitely people I'll visit if I'm ever in Germany!
And in this picture of couchsurfers that came to visit, 6 countries and 3ish continents are represented: Australia(1), Turkey(1), France(1), Canada(2), Mexico(1), and the United States(2). Several were students in the US for the semester, so they came during the Daytona 500 and spent the weekend at the race. A very busy time! Well, for them. I mostly staying in the house, did laundry, made sure all the sand didn't accumulate too much with all the feet going in and out, and watched some movies. The evenings were fun when everyone was together.
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| Janna, Fenja |
And in this picture of couchsurfers that came to visit, 6 countries and 3ish continents are represented: Australia(1), Turkey(1), France(1), Canada(2), Mexico(1), and the United States(2). Several were students in the US for the semester, so they came during the Daytona 500 and spent the weekend at the race. A very busy time! Well, for them. I mostly staying in the house, did laundry, made sure all the sand didn't accumulate too much with all the feet going in and out, and watched some movies. The evenings were fun when everyone was together.
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| Hugo, random guy, Mike, Chris, Ryan, David Yeliz, Tina, Rebecca |
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Met some great people
Last night I had 5 couchsurfers stay at my house - 2 cyclist where were circumnavigating Florida (2000 mile tripe), a Canadian Cyclist who started in Canada and came down through New York and will end up on the west coast of Canada (a bit longer than 2000 miles) and a wonderful couple who was taking a driving trip from the west coast to find the next place to live.
In the same order as described above, + me: Jody, Ryan, David, Chris, Cody, Jake:
Chris, Cody, Jake and I went out for Chinese food and had a great conversation on who was doing what and why. I only met Jody and Ryan (on the left) once I got back from dinner. You can read Jody and Ryan's biking blog at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=175646&v=4 and Chris's trip at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com
At 2:40 I wandered noisily outside, and Jody joined me and saw the eclipsed moon. It was good for about 2 minutes, then we went inside and back to sleep. It was cold! For Florida....
In the same order as described above, + me: Jody, Ryan, David, Chris, Cody, Jake:
Chris, Cody, Jake and I went out for Chinese food and had a great conversation on who was doing what and why. I only met Jody and Ryan (on the left) once I got back from dinner. You can read Jody and Ryan's biking blog at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=175646&v=4 and Chris's trip at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com
At 2:40 I wandered noisily outside, and Jody joined me and saw the eclipsed moon. It was good for about 2 minutes, then we went inside and back to sleep. It was cold! For Florida....
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Advanced to 4rd Kyu
Sensei DiMarco tested me on October 23rd and I am now 4th kyu! Myself, I think it was well overdue with all the time I've put into it - but only timewise. When I left for Pennsylvania for a year and then came back and re-started, I have felt awkward, un-coordinated, and forgetful about the moves - I feel lucky that Sensei advanced me at all. :-) For those that are not familiar with Aikido rankings, 4th kyu is similar to... Orange belt in taekwondo or karate.
Also, Herman skipped a belt two weeks ago and became a black belt! At the Aikido conference last week, Sensei needed to talk to the Doshu first (the family heir of the founder of Aikido) in order to advance Herman. Usually, only 7th, 8th, or 9th Dan are allowed to advance individuals to black belt, but apparently Sensei (when everyone was younger) has trained with half of the trainers at the conference and even though he is a 6th Dan, he's permitted to advance students at his whim. :-)
Also, Herman skipped a belt two weeks ago and became a black belt! At the Aikido conference last week, Sensei needed to talk to the Doshu first (the family heir of the founder of Aikido) in order to advance Herman. Usually, only 7th, 8th, or 9th Dan are allowed to advance individuals to black belt, but apparently Sensei (when everyone was younger) has trained with half of the trainers at the conference and even though he is a 6th Dan, he's permitted to advance students at his whim. :-)
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Best Line Ever
Had a nice day off - kind of. Didn't do anything. It was a nice break - a lot of early and late hours at work lately.
Was watching some anime about a new transfer student.
F: "He's trading punches with the (200 foot tall) dragon!"
R: "I guess he's a tough guy"
Was watching some anime about a new transfer student.
F: "He's trading punches with the (200 foot tall) dragon!"
R: "I guess he's a tough guy"
Monday, October 04, 2010
Love of math
I have been trying to learn scheme via DrRacket, and I found a nice website to build my basic programming skills through math problems. I just wanted to announce that I am a level 1 Eulerian! All that means is that I have submitted correct answers to 25 or more problems. In celebration, here is the icon I get to use as a math.... novice.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Qu'ran burning
It is about time someone reacted sanely to the burnings of the Quran in Flordia. This whole international 'incident' was caused because news reporters in general are unable to seperate small events from big events. Why should a small group of people acting out their beliefs in a manner that doesn't physically affect anyone have any effect on the world as a whole? This should be rhetorical question that has an answer of, "these actions should not affect the rest of the world." Sadly, the church in Florida has highlighted the failings of the world that reads or hears about the daily news.
There are a few factors that combined to create this big furor. First, this event involves a clearly defined group making a dedicated stand again Muslim extremeism in a way that can be twisted to be an insult on all Muslims. A percieved insult against Islam is instantly newsworthy and ridiculed if it happens in the US, as opposed to insults and law suits against splinter groups like the FLDS.
The second issue are news reporters that don't have the wisdom to choose what issues are and aren't important in the big picture of the world. The issue of a small church burning Qurans should never have risen higher than the local newspaper. Eh, it just seems pointless to talk about this issue, and further discussion just fans the flames, or would if this was read by more than 2 or 3 people. As a personal effort, I already refuse to bring this issue up in workplace discussions or participate in any conversations.
Update: A similar viewpoint on Christian Science Monitor.
There are a few factors that combined to create this big furor. First, this event involves a clearly defined group making a dedicated stand again Muslim extremeism in a way that can be twisted to be an insult on all Muslims. A percieved insult against Islam is instantly newsworthy and ridiculed if it happens in the US, as opposed to insults and law suits against splinter groups like the FLDS.
The second issue are news reporters that don't have the wisdom to choose what issues are and aren't important in the big picture of the world. The issue of a small church burning Qurans should never have risen higher than the local newspaper. Eh, it just seems pointless to talk about this issue, and further discussion just fans the flames, or would if this was read by more than 2 or 3 people. As a personal effort, I already refuse to bring this issue up in workplace discussions or participate in any conversations.
Update: A similar viewpoint on Christian Science Monitor.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Mobile World
This is my first blog from my cell phone! I am touring a hospital pharmacy to get a handle on how the software I develop during work is used in the 'real' world. At least, I will be taking the tour and gowning up for the clean room soon. Right now I am waiting for another co-worker to show up. He got a late start and I showed up here early, so I have some spare time.
I can tell the days are getting shorter. Early July, when I would wake up in the morning, I could tell it was time to wake up by looking at the sunlight filtering through the blinds. Now the only way to know I need to get ready is the fact that I woke up and blindly groping for the cell phone then checking the time.
Last weekend, a couchsurfer I met for lunch called me up and wanted to do something. Neither of us knew what to do so we ended up at a breeder reptile expo. 500 booth spaces of snakes, turtles, frogs, and lizards occupied 2 hours of the day. One booth put up the geneology of the snakes they were selling, and the baby tree snakes that I would have bought if I was going to buy something started at $500 and then went up. The most expensive snake was $9600 and I don't remember seeing snakes under $500. A very high end product. M.m. took VERY nice pictures and I will ask if it is alright to post them. Check back later!
Yay! First cell phone post complete!
I can tell the days are getting shorter. Early July, when I would wake up in the morning, I could tell it was time to wake up by looking at the sunlight filtering through the blinds. Now the only way to know I need to get ready is the fact that I woke up and blindly groping for the cell phone then checking the time.
Last weekend, a couchsurfer I met for lunch called me up and wanted to do something. Neither of us knew what to do so we ended up at a breeder reptile expo. 500 booth spaces of snakes, turtles, frogs, and lizards occupied 2 hours of the day. One booth put up the geneology of the snakes they were selling, and the baby tree snakes that I would have bought if I was going to buy something started at $500 and then went up. The most expensive snake was $9600 and I don't remember seeing snakes under $500. A very high end product. M.m. took VERY nice pictures and I will ask if it is alright to post them. Check back later!
Yay! First cell phone post complete!
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