tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50135786337344533952024-02-08T04:01:40.682-08:00écrivezTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03496128736408921997noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013578633734453395.post-24855728018486243042010-08-19T19:15:00.000-07:002010-08-19T19:15:28.553-07:00My submission to MoleskinerieRecently gave Saddleback Leather a little love regarding their Moleskine covers on the Moleskinerie site. Here is the article they posted.<br />
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<a href="http://www.moleskinerie.com/2010/08/saddleback-leather-co.html">Moleskinerie</a><br />
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TTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03496128736408921997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013578633734453395.post-39189178481444029022010-08-18T17:19:00.000-07:002012-02-05T22:50:12.215-08:00Observations from this week and before...<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just a few things about this week and before this week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We received a new person at work that will definitely change the way that things are done. I have already encountered a little bit of this and it has already brought the thoughts of self doubt and uncertainty to my work. Now the difference between this time and a previous time would be that I know my abilities, I know my short comings, I know what I need to do, I know that it will be ok. This will be a good change, I don't need anything to get me through it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My iBook G4 has reached the limits of current technology and is being bogged down by the internet, as well as, the abilities and demands of the current software. Currently I am on the search for a new Notebook computer and all possibilities are on the table. I love the Macs and the simplicity of the OS, yet the price of the actual machine that is associated with it is a game changer. In the past I would have quickly went to Apple got some line of credit love and moved forward. With the current economic climate in the country I don't have the confidence to move into a debtor situation, so long way to say I'm paying cash for my next computer. Quite possible I may utter the phrase again, "Dude, I got a Dell." I'm converting critical documents to Office as we speak, just in case that is the decision I go with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My music has broadened to more of an eclectic mix than before. I had Jay Z, Muse, Kermit Ruffins, Ciaran Wynne, U2 and Pearl Jam on the same play list. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a tan. A light one, yet a noticeable tan on my body now. It was earned, the hour a day I have spent at the pool has payed off and I am excited to see if this has payed off in my continual work to lose weight to my ideal weight. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am over hot dogs. Just saying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was able to win 2nd row seats to a minor league game. I got into the game on a promotion for 4 complimentary tickets due to changing over from my TxTag to an NTTA Toll Tag. Memo: I never win anything. That being said I have a text in to the Astros to win tickets to the Dodgers game and a meet and greet with Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton. Wish me luck. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chuy's opened a new restaurant 3 exits north of me. Yeah, I'm pretty stoked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think that is it for now. I'll post again when I find something a little more interesting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">T</span>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03496128736408921997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013578633734453395.post-54938867023769175862010-06-29T23:56:00.000-07:002010-06-29T23:56:22.266-07:00The right amount of time between posts, the right message for the times.I have looked back on the distance between posts only to come up with this simple conclusion-- more doesn't equal better. The last six days have been very introspective allowing my better half and I to work on how we would like to see the next two years play out. I on the otherhand would like to see more travel in our future and a few more trips out of our neighborhood to places that we haven't seen in a while. On this we agree. We have for the most part been prisoners of the city minus a few trips to see family and the wandering spirit in both of us has overridden the need for new things. We are evolving our lives into something that will create the memories that we wished to impart to the kiddos. Things must have- purpose. Why do we have this? What do we gain from this? Does this contribute to the greater need? We are running out of time, so our time is now.Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03496128736408921997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013578633734453395.post-87425396087706396352010-06-15T12:59:00.000-07:002010-06-15T12:59:25.653-07:00At a Starbucks near you...So I make a trip to my local Starbucks this afternoon for a little pick me up. While getting my Double Tall Non Fat No whip Mocha I notice something interesting. Roughly 80% of the people sitting there were discussing a business plan of some sort. One with a Flip camera, another shuffling through a briefcase to get papers out, and somehow the small coffee shop feel that Starbucks founded itself on has become just another corporate meeeting room. Jazz, good friends talking over coffee seem to be an evening activity now, as from nine to five we're open for "business". I know and would be fooling myself if in this economy I was demanding that Starbucks limits its clientele. Just an interesting observation for today. So if you are looking for atmosphere- look local. If you are looking for business go to the chain store. <br />
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I'll keep observing for your reading. <br />
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TTerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03496128736408921997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013578633734453395.post-83913882881745102012010-06-13T00:17:00.000-07:002010-06-13T00:58:50.604-07:00A Leaner, meaner, minimalist blog...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leaner, meaner, minimalist.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It sounds like a recipe for a angry, rant filled post. It's not, so don't worry about it. The beauty of writing is that occasionally you can go back and re-read what is written and then say "What was I thinking?" So I did, and then I cleaned, I deleted, I simplified. I've saved the greatest hits, the ones that I want for posterity so I can say I was right, and that leaves us with the new things. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is another reason for the clean up. I'm changing direction. How, what, when, how? I have the same answer for all–– I don't know. There will be changes, what they are I don't know, I'm working to make the blog something that I didn't think possible. Only that I haven't figured it out yet. The address will be the same, the look different, the name may change along the way, the direction definitely. You're welcome along for the ride. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">T</span>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03496128736408921997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013578633734453395.post-23074025326205746832009-12-22T07:26:00.000-08:002009-12-22T07:59:02.869-08:00Totally Analog (and other assorted things...)So this is the past year where I have successfully dropped the digital habit of planning and organizing and went back to reliable paper and pen. My notebook that has been in many other pictures here has been a reliable companion to help me jot down notes, keep tasks on track and the like. I know that this seems like such a trivial thing, but considering my techie twitch that I have occasionally this is pretty considerable. The move back to the Franklin Planner for a brief 3 months led only to disappointment as the company has decided to go to online only and closed the 3 stores that they had in the Dallas area. Alas, dear Moleskine, you have not left me.<div><br /></div><div>Little man has had his birthday and is getting taller, smarter, and more of a personality. It is amazing to realize how quickly the time flies and I only have the pictures to remember younger days. Happy, scared, excited, tired, sick, they were all there. Considering my schedule and the requirements that I have it was good to know that I was there too. I have heard some say that they couldn't be a part time father. All this while they had their head buried in a video game shooing the kid off. Hopefully, when little man looks back on his life he will be able to say that his Dad was there. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sexy Bride and I have reached milestones in our lives and decided that age is still just a number and one other important thought. We're not dead. We gave each other the best gifts that we could possible give each other for our birthdays. We cooked. Since we love working with food in our home, not as a business, I cooked up some Tenderloin Filets for Michelle, and she found some sirloin steaks for me. Little man surprised me the most when he walked in with a Fisher Space Pen for my birthday. My new everyday pen. It was from him, and he picked the color. Purple.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is pretty much it for now. Having to get back into writing since I have more than 140 characters to work with here. I'll be raising the roof for LSU on New Years day. I'll hopefully be writing more, and framing more pictures. I have to admit that between writing and framing photos I get the most satisfaction because I know that it was mine. I did that.</div><div><br /></div><div>More later,</div><div><br /></div><div>T</div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03496128736408921997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013578633734453395.post-32360055038016912902009-01-13T23:34:00.000-08:002009-01-13T23:43:16.399-08:00I promise I am still alive...If I don't get my mental health days soon I don't know for how long. That is right now I am eyebrow deep in my building's inventory and I'm the guy everyone is looking at to run it. My manager put it in perspective today... "Bob taught me, I taught Sally, and Sally, well Sally let you hang out there and figure it out for yourself." <div><br /></div><div>So needless to say I don't have much funny stuff in my life right now, and what is funny I save for my own sanity at this point. Vacation is now just 10 days away and when I get my mental health back I will post once again. Hopefully with some great kid or self deprecating humor that will have you reaching for that hand towel to clean up the drink you just spewed through your nose. (Part of me is sorry for that humor-- moment over, I'm not sorry, really, why else would I write it if that wasn't my intention sometimes?)</div><div><br /></div><div>More later,</div><div><br /></div><div>T</div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03496128736408921997noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013578633734453395.post-47509398519512387252008-04-25T17:54:00.000-07:002008-04-30T08:31:21.755-07:00Hockey, Sprinkles, and the Texas Dept of TransportationWell, tonight starts the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and I am truly in Hockey Mode. I have been in Hockey mode since the beginning of the season and will not have to wait long until the beginning of the next season considering the very brief off season that the NHL has. 9 pm local time will be the beginning of round 2 and the large noise from the N Texas part of the country will be from my humble dwelling. Only thing better than watching the Stars in the second round is watching the second round in High Definition.<div><br /></div><div>We were supposed to have rain today, and when we were projected to get a 40% chance of rain, I didn't know that they (the meteorologist) actually meant that there would only be 40 drops of rain. Yes, I was bored, counted 40 drops of rain, I'll just wait for the next round of spring storms.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now this next thing had to be the funniest thing that has happened to me in a while. About this time of year I receive my registration from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot) for my vehicle. Last year, I had a different vehicle and since I bought it in Dallas County and not in Collin County (where I actually live) it was registered in Dallas county. Now I do live in Dallas, but the really small part of Dallas that is in Collin County. To be even more correct if I should move just three city blocks to the north I would no longer be in Dallas, but another adjoining municipality. Now on the other end of the spectrum for me to actually be in Dallas County I would have to move 3 blocks south. So let me get back to my registration. About a month ago I received the "Dallas County" registration. The same registration that was let's say $XX.xx amount. So now today, just mear days from the month of May when my registration is due I receive another registration this one from "Collin County" that was in the amount of let's say $XX.xx +$1.50 for the extra Collin county tax. So I'm trying to wrap the math around my head so here is how it would breakdown. To save my extra $1.50 I would have to move to Dallas County thus incurring--- Moving expenses, an extra $250 a month rent, and extra gas to the tax assessor / Grocery store that would get me my registration paid and my little stick for the windshield (yes, we have window stickers). I find the extra $1.50 that I pay will save me at least equal amount of gas to get my registration done a the local grocery and I find that it is valuable money spent in my county for roads. I appreciate on the smoother roads the near bliss of the smooth glass like ride on my county roads, and on the other hand the random testing on my fillings on the other stretches of our road system. I would like to publicly thank TxDot and the Collin County Tax Assessor for saving me more gas in this age of quickly approaching $4.25 / gallon gas (not including the state, federal, local taxes, and in addition to the probably newly formed finance charge for the gas, because we are no longer buying the gas but now leasing it) because I will now be able to take my chariot that I am purchasing and register it. Registration that can go to keep the roads maintained. Thank you Collin County.</div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03496128736408921997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013578633734453395.post-10743945556641394882008-03-21T19:09:00.001-07:002008-03-21T22:35:03.065-07:00Observations near the end of a vacation...Well, it is the Friday near the end of my annual spring vacation and here are few observations that have occurred to me this week.<div><br /></div><div>When your 5 year old asks you and your spouse if you need a time out you've still got the cool factor left..</div><div><br /></div><div>When the IRS sends you a letter in the mail explaining to you how you are going to GET money instead of SEND money. That's a cool feeling.</div><div><br /></div><div>The more water you drink the more of a coffee buzz you get when you go to Starbucks. yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah!</div><div><br /></div><div>Hockey season sucks when you lose the game with 28.7 seconds left.</div><div><br /></div><div>Spring is in the air and it is soon to be opening day of Baseball season! H-town represent!</div><div><br /></div><div>Finding a few hours to spend with your bride after someone else's kid has went home is a cool feeling.</div><div><br /></div><div>Getting your favorite baseball team's logo on your debit card... Definate cool feeling!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Spring cleaning sucks, but I'm glad I did it.</div><div><br /></div><div>More later,</div><div><br /></div><div>T</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03496128736408921997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013578633734453395.post-90132392029918922412008-02-08T08:00:00.001-08:002011-02-14T22:24:39.884-08:00Very few people are going to want to hear this...I've been thinking of this post for quite a while and I guess with the current political climate now is the time to post this one.<br />
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<div></div><div>Everyone prepare yourselves––– Our next President will be a Democrat.</div><div></div><div></div><div>Now I don't make this comment lightly. I am an Independent for the fact that I see myself as more of an American than represented by anyone political party. I see many benefits from each party, but not enough to totally polarize myself with any one party enough to go over and start drinking the Kool-Aid. I will be the first to admit that in past elections I have voted for a Republican candidate and can remember vividly being a staunch Reagan supporter and even voted for the elder Bush, as well as, the younger Bush in the last elections. However we are now at a point where the conditions in our country are priming "The Perfect Storm" of politics.</div><div><br />
</div><div></div><div></div><div>Let's take a quick look at the issues that are driving this...</div><div><br />
</div><div></div><div></div><div>First and foremost Democrats are hacked. The last two general elections Dubya was voted into the Presidency first time by the same situation (the country wanted change) and in the second term he faced a weaker candidate (sorry, not a Kerry supporter). The Democrats had lost their edge in the get out the vote area and Bush took advantage of it being a "uniter not a divider". The second term also made more sense to keep the same President in office that was leading us in the war that we currently are in. Democrats have worked harder in this cycle on starting grassroots support via the internet, younger voters, and minorities to get the vote out for their cause. After Al Gore's defeat in 2000 the Democrats realize that they have to work hard to make sure that every vote leaves home and gets to the polling place.</div><div><br />
</div><div></div><div></div><div>Our national deficit has grown tremendously (as it does when a nation is at war) and this is effecting the many government programs that many people depend on. As a society we have an obligation to take care of our fellow person. It is just the nature of economics that when one area gets more money there is another are that will not get the money that it needs. Now I realize that most of this weight falls on the Congress that a) writes the bills for the appropriation and b) if vetoed by the President has the power to over ride the veto with a 2/3 majority of the Congress. How many Americans actually realize this? I would think that not many realize this basic Civics lesson and where will the blame lie??? Bush-- a Republican.</div><div><br />
</div><div></div><div></div><div>Healthcare is in crisis. It is sad that most people have insurance they don't use, don't have insurance or are uninsurable. Let's get to the two basic principles that is causing this crisis--- Money and Prevention. I find it sad that Hospitals, Doctors, and a host of support personnel have to raise the price of basic healthcare due to the fact that not only medical companies' prices are rising, but that this price has to compensate for the fact that in most cases these organizations are only getting 80% of what they are charging. It is sad that many Pharmaceutical companies have already re-cooped their R&D budgets, yet keep charging money to get higher profits. Whatever happened to taking care of our fellow man? Well it seems that our fellow man has every problem that hits the television. Thanks to the pharmaceutical companies and their ever growing advertising campaign telling people "here is your problem see your doctor and buy our drug" versus doctors actually diagnosing what the real problems are then prescribing the medication to follow. Companies are interested more in selling their product versus what will prevent needing their product. Let's work on some prevention to the problems instead of just being ready for the problem. </div><div><br />
</div><div></div><div></div><div>I even hesitate to start on the economy-- dear reader you might want to take an intermission, get a drink, a snack (keep your carbs in line), and make a trip to the potty because I'm not coming to clean it up. We are in an inflationary economy right now with the prices of most of the basic in-elastic (items in the economy that all consumers must purchase to take care of the basics of life in this economy) items continuing to rise paychecks don't go as far as they did not even eight years ago. Why? Fuel. In 1999, not even ten years ago, the price of unleaded gasoline was at around 90 cents per gallon. In 2002 gasoline went to 1.50 and there was a public outcry. In 2004 still higher reaching around the $2.00 range and now in 2008 hovering around $2.80. Normally if you were figuring the true cost of living roughly around every 10 years you could multiply your cost of living by 2 and this would figure your true cost of living or you could divide it by 2 and see what it would compare to in other decades. Example... Milk now is at $3.56 a gallon. Meaning that in 1999 it should compare to $1.78 (not in the ball park considering the rising gas prices). Gasoline however multiplying should now only be in the $2.00 range just to the inflationary effect multiplication effect. I do realize that there is more demand not only in our country, but also in places like China that has now moved from a biking society to a car society. That Buick in China is needing gas too. Now the part of this equation that will really hack a lot of people off is this. The petroleum companies haven't built any new refineries in the last ten years. They aren't building for demand so therefore the increase in prices is coming to these companies is coming in at profit. ExxonMobil reported a 40 billion dollar profit for last year, that's with a B folks. Now if I was being subsidized by YOUR Government I could drop down more money too. With the price of fuel going up then no wonder the price of everything else that requires a truck to deliver it to the stores is going up too. Enough is enough with the price of basic transportation going up. With the government spending like it is going out of style why is it any wonder that the nation has followed this trend. It is time for the FEW to quit getting the handouts and the many that really support this country get some real relief. The stock markets are in turmoil due to the fact that many individuals have run their households like the federal government just going out to get new money and not taken care of their own house. The markets contrary to popular belief actually do better during democratic years due to the focus on domestic issues.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Finally, let's talk about me, or at least people like me who aren't polarized. The independents in this country yearn for change from candidates that aren't looking to only give tax breaks to large corporations. The independents in this country are looking at the real problems not red states and blue states. The independents are looking for solutions to the problems not who is to blame. The independents in this country are looking for an end to an unpopular war that was not the focus of fighting terrorism. The independents are researching the candidates for the candidate that best represents their cause (the nation's cause) to be a responsible leader in the world community. I'm not alone and even I haven't made my decision on who will receive my vote. However, as an independent I'm walking away from anyone's Kool-Aid and taking a hard look at the candidates. I'm researching who honestly has a shot to turn this country around. Meanwhile if you look at the popular vote numbers in the primaries Democrats are mobilizing more than Republicans. Anyway you cut it, this general election promises to be a wild one and don't be surprised if a Democrat is elected.</div><div><br />
</div><div>T</div><div></div><div></div></div>Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03496128736408921997noreply@blogger.com4