Why are we here?
Because we're here
Roll the bones

Why does it happen?
Because it happens
Roll the bones

I try to write and nothing comes out!!!! Why do I write this, does anyone read it? Does anyone care? Does it really matter? I write it for me, maybe someone will visit and leave a comment or two, maybe someone will read and change their view on something, or maybe someone will read it and think, 'This guy needs to be committed!!' Here comes winter, I hate the cold and dark but love the snow. Here in Rochester we get 120 inches per year (or a shitload)!!!!! The overcast skies reflect my mood sometimes. Other times a nice fall day is actually relaxing. Nothing is better than waking up on a Saturday morning at 9am with it still being dark outside (I wake at 4am, so 9am is sleeping in for me). Mind races, thoughts fly, some chrystalize (sp?), solidify, others are fleeting...can I ever grab them??!?!?!?!?

Again the Friday Five

1. What is your favorite scary movie?
Night of the Living Dead (Original), scared the hell out of me.....still can't watch it alone (and I LOVE horror flicks)

2. What is your favorite Halloween treat?
Mini-Kit-Kat (love the 2 stick for some reason) and single pack Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, do you see a pattern here

3. Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, describe your best Halloween costume.
Not in several years, did the Hobo thing in the 70's, but the best was a Shaggy Dog made with paper grocery bags and shredded newspaper. It looked awesome but I wouldn't get past the front door these days, I would have went up like a torch if I passed to close to a lit pumpkin!!!!

4. Do you enjoy going to haunted houses or other spooky events?
YES!!!!!! Hay Rides, Haunted Barns, you name it, I LOVE IT!!!!!!! My city, Rochester, NY, does a Ghost Walk every year to visit real life hauntings in the city and the Historical Society dresses up and acts out old tales. Supposedly Jack The Ripper is buried here in Rochester!!!!!

5. Will you dress up for Halloween this year?
Nope, but I did think of shaving my mustace and head and going to a party as Homer Simpson..........

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
I am in a union, NABET-CWA, I am also the Local President. These past 5 months I have been in negotiations with the company. I won't bore you with the issues of juristiction, wages and layoff, but I will touch on management integrity. Now for most labor people, those two words never go together. However, when you have a 4 year good working relationship with a company you are surprised when things don't go their way they try to lock you out!! Being a union leader, with several contracts under my belt I understand the tools of bargaining. But there is a time when local management should stand up to out-of-town owners and protect thier workers!!! The threat to lock me out was a threat to my family! When these bastards now say hello in the hall (now that we have a contract) I can't help but think about what would've happened to my wife and son if they had no health insurance and we lost 65% of our monthly income (no mortgage payment, car payment, power bill). So the next time they say 'Good morning' they should be grateful I gave them the cold shoulder and not the black eye they deserve!

It seems to me
While it's true that every dog will have his day
When all the bones are buried
There is barely time to go outside and play

I have a dog, Marble (a Border Collie) who is very smart! I don't mean she knows a lot of tricks (she does) but she UNDERSTANDS the moods and routines of the family.
Some examples:
- if my son stays up past his 8pm bedtime, Marble will bark at him, nudge him with his nose, look at me and run to my son's room. She will pace and whine and drive us nuts until he goes to bed!
- I have a pair of 'workshorts' I wear to do yardwork. When we go outside the first thing Marble does is find her tennis ball. If I wear my workshorts she goes straight to her 'lounge' spot and doesn't go near her ball!!!

Why write about this today? Well I noticed something last week. My wife and I suffered a terrible loss, my wife lost her 2nd pregnancy. I didn't take it too well, to say the least. I was feeling 'down' and just laying on the couch 'vegging' when my dog jumped up on the couch (which she doesn't do), squeezed herself between my legs, put her head on my belly, looked me in the eye and let out a big sigh!!! No phone call, hug, or handshake made me feel as good as my loyal, big eyed dog!

In your head is the answer,
Let it guide you along,
Let your heart be the anchor,
And the beat of your own song

-Peart, Lee, Liefson

My wife thinks I spend too much time on the computer. Maybe she's right, I LOVE e-mail, and various forums. I play several PC games, but not religiously. I do check my e-mail several times a day, which I know annoys her. She calls it 'my escape'...that it cuts into family time. I never log on if we are doing something,but I will if my son is watching TV or the wife is reading. I enjoy the internet, I don't chat,IM, or have e-mail buddies, and I don't do porn!! I just like to surf...is that so wrong?

Try The Friday Five:

1. How many TVs do you have in your home?
3 contected to Dish Network, 1 for Video Games, plus a portable for long car trips

2. On average, how much TV do you watch in a week?

12 Hours, just about 2 hours of Prime Time a night!

3. Do you feel that television is bad for young children?

Not at all, as long as it is in moderation!! I have a 9 year old son and we let him watch TV everyday. Some of the shows we watch together and have a BLAST. Spongebob Square Pants is great for family viewing, we all get a good laugh. Hey Arnold and Wild Thornberries got my son asking about other things, like wildlife and baseball and star gazing so, yes I would have to say TV, in moderation, is excellent for kids!!!

4. What TV shows do you absolutely HAVE to watch, and if you miss them, you're heartbroken?

Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, NYPD Blue (since episode #1), and The Soprano's

5. If you had the power to create your own television network, what would your line-up look like?

This would be a trick question as I work for NBC, as a technician and director. For the mornings I would have to have The Today Show and Regis and Kelly (can;t get enought of Kelly) and a nice mix of fun and education for the kids in the afternoon. There really are no more 'must get home from school and watch' shows for kids anymore.......or SATURDAY MONRING CARTOONS, that is a must. As for Prime Time, I like the edgy, action/drama shows: NYPD Blue, ER, Buffy, CSI and my guilty pleasure Xena:Warrior Princess...now that's the stuff!

Test what you ask? Well my new AvantBlog...I have a Handspring Visor which basically holds my life. Schedule, projects, addresses, you name it! Now I can update my Blog from wherever I am. So let's see how it works.

test

Took my son to see my all time favorite band, RUSH. Now I'm not an old-timer (at least I dont think 32 is old), but I sound it when I complain about music today. My bands really don't tour anymore.......Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Metallica....aside from Rush I haven't been to a concert in years!!! Now I have tried today's music and I like some of it, but they are starting to sound too much alike.....now last night in the 2nd row was what music was about.....screaming guitars, heart pounding bass and the drumming of truly one of the greats of our generation.....12 hours later and the ears still ring, now that ladies and gents is ROCK AND ROLL...........bye, bye, bye!

Hey, gonna try again with this.....been a tough week and all, I hope to update on a more consistant basis. Troubles at work as my company has threatened to lock us union employees out. We get mad at a 0% raise for the next 4 years and they punish us?!?!?!!??! Companies that say they care and are family companies are full of it. If you jusdt admitted to us all you are in it for the money, I think we would respect you better. If anyone thinks Bill Gates is doing this for the children of tomorrow then I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.....