Politicians say that we can't make public health care work. These are the same politicians who say that Americans can do anything better than anyone, anywhere, anytime. Am I the only one who thinks these statements are mutually exclusive? After all, there are dozens of countries that have successfully implemented socialized medicine.
So which is it folks? Are we better than these socialized countries, which would mean that we can make public health care work? Or we unable to make universal health care work, which means that all of these "average" countries are better than us?
You can't have it both ways.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Teacher's Daughter
Ever since one of my favorite teachers passed away, just shy of two years ago, I've had this recurring dream. Well not exactly a specific dream... more of a recurring dream theme. In these dreams, I'd be talking to my band teacher just before he went onstage for a concert with his students. (I'm an adult in these dreams... not back in high school.) There was nothing specific in our conversations, just idle chit-chat. Initially, I'd have the dream and wake up in a confused state... realizing only after regaining consciousness that he was dead. As time passed, the confused state was part of the dream. Kind of "Wait a minute. I can't be talking to you. You're not here." Yet the conversation would continue. As additional time passed, he became more and more ghost-like in the dreams.
A month or two ago, the theme changed a bit. I was backstage in the high school gymnasium. The school band was assembled to play a memorial concert for my band teacher. I kind of expected his ghost to appear, but it didn't happen. What I did see though, was his daughter, front and center in the audience. I knew his daughter fairly well, which makes sense, considering that we'd been classmates since seventh grade. When I woke up, I understood that I had to get in touch with the teacher's daughter... to let her know that I missed her dad.
Then I did something I thought I'd never do. I got a Facebook account. She was the first person I looked up, and I found her almost instantly. I told her about my dreams, and how much her dad meant to me. My mission was fulfilled.
After graduating high school, I never looked back. I kept in touch with a few select people, my band teacher being one of them, but for the most part, I went my own way. I didn't attend high school reunions because with a very few exceptions, I didn't want anything to do with most of the preppie, plastic people that were my classmates.
Recently though, that mindset has changed. (And when I say recently, I mean within the last year or so.) I've come to understand that I'm not the same punk kid I was in school, so my long-ignored class peers have probably changed as well... most of them anyway. With the creation of my Facebook account, providence is kicking in, and I've started hearing from some of the people from my childhood. For the most part, the people I'm hearing from are the ones I never really considered "plastic" in the first place; they're the ones who would cross my mind from time to time. And I'm finding myself surprised with how large this number of people is. As for those that I did consider artificial and superficial? Like I said, I've changed, so who am I to assume that they're the same.
I've digressed big-time though. I heard back from the teacher's daughter today. Here's a lightly edited excerpt of what she had to say...
I cried and cried...I continue to read what you wrote about my dad daily. I know that sounds weird but it was soooo nice of you to write the kind words that you did. It will be 2 years that Dad has been gone and I still can't believe it. It's like a bad dream...I will eventually wake up and my life will continue as it was when he was alive. I ask myself daily why God took him so early. My kids and [brother] and [sister]'s kids were robbed as far as I'm concerned..they were cheated on really getting to know such a wonderful man that they called "Pop." It was so nice to hear from you. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to write what you did. I hope you don't mind but I was with my mom and sister last week and read what you wrote to them...they were both speechless. I have to say thank you again. You will never know what that email meant to me.
I'm a big believer in providence. In retrospect, I guess the dreams were leading me to get in touch with the teacher's daughter the whole time. Doing so, in turn, showed me that my new mindset about my old classmates is proving itself true. Like me, they are not the same people they were as teenagers.
Furthermore, I've come to realize that I was an idiot. I had this big chip on my shoulder about my high school years, and my peers, and I had this chip for no reason. I wasn't really an outcast. And I never had a problem with the vast majority of them. In fact, as I re-think old assumptions and recall old names and faces, I wonder how the hell I got so jaded about high school in the first place. Does this mean I'm maturing?
Either way, I haven't had the dreams since writing the teacher's daughter. I'm glad that I was able to tell someone in their family how greatly he influenced my life, and I'm specifically glad it was her that I told... since I was closer to her than anyone in the family. I'm also happy that the dreams spurred me into reaching out to... old friends.
A month or two ago, the theme changed a bit. I was backstage in the high school gymnasium. The school band was assembled to play a memorial concert for my band teacher. I kind of expected his ghost to appear, but it didn't happen. What I did see though, was his daughter, front and center in the audience. I knew his daughter fairly well, which makes sense, considering that we'd been classmates since seventh grade. When I woke up, I understood that I had to get in touch with the teacher's daughter... to let her know that I missed her dad.
Then I did something I thought I'd never do. I got a Facebook account. She was the first person I looked up, and I found her almost instantly. I told her about my dreams, and how much her dad meant to me. My mission was fulfilled.
After graduating high school, I never looked back. I kept in touch with a few select people, my band teacher being one of them, but for the most part, I went my own way. I didn't attend high school reunions because with a very few exceptions, I didn't want anything to do with most of the preppie, plastic people that were my classmates.
Recently though, that mindset has changed. (And when I say recently, I mean within the last year or so.) I've come to understand that I'm not the same punk kid I was in school, so my long-ignored class peers have probably changed as well... most of them anyway. With the creation of my Facebook account, providence is kicking in, and I've started hearing from some of the people from my childhood. For the most part, the people I'm hearing from are the ones I never really considered "plastic" in the first place; they're the ones who would cross my mind from time to time. And I'm finding myself surprised with how large this number of people is. As for those that I did consider artificial and superficial? Like I said, I've changed, so who am I to assume that they're the same.
I've digressed big-time though. I heard back from the teacher's daughter today. Here's a lightly edited excerpt of what she had to say...
I cried and cried...I continue to read what you wrote about my dad daily. I know that sounds weird but it was soooo nice of you to write the kind words that you did. It will be 2 years that Dad has been gone and I still can't believe it. It's like a bad dream...I will eventually wake up and my life will continue as it was when he was alive. I ask myself daily why God took him so early. My kids and [brother] and [sister]'s kids were robbed as far as I'm concerned..they were cheated on really getting to know such a wonderful man that they called "Pop." It was so nice to hear from you. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to write what you did. I hope you don't mind but I was with my mom and sister last week and read what you wrote to them...they were both speechless. I have to say thank you again. You will never know what that email meant to me.
I'm a big believer in providence. In retrospect, I guess the dreams were leading me to get in touch with the teacher's daughter the whole time. Doing so, in turn, showed me that my new mindset about my old classmates is proving itself true. Like me, they are not the same people they were as teenagers.
Furthermore, I've come to realize that I was an idiot. I had this big chip on my shoulder about my high school years, and my peers, and I had this chip for no reason. I wasn't really an outcast. And I never had a problem with the vast majority of them. In fact, as I re-think old assumptions and recall old names and faces, I wonder how the hell I got so jaded about high school in the first place. Does this mean I'm maturing?
Either way, I haven't had the dreams since writing the teacher's daughter. I'm glad that I was able to tell someone in their family how greatly he influenced my life, and I'm specifically glad it was her that I told... since I was closer to her than anyone in the family. I'm also happy that the dreams spurred me into reaching out to... old friends.
Monday, September 7, 2009
What Goes Around
Since I've interviewed some people, I guess it's only fair that I answer questions. If you've got any questions for me, post them in the contacts. Of course, I reserve the right to not answer, just like I gave my interviewees that prerogative.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Sunny, With a Chance of Interview
That's right... it's Sunny's turn today. You know the routine. My words will be black and bold, Sunny's words will be red.
Hmmm… where to start, where to start… I guess I’ll just write some questions and see where it takes us…
Okies!!!(don't you just HATE when people say that? Me too!!!)
Never heard okies… I’ve always been an okey-dokey type myself.
LOL- It's just Okie-Dokie(southern variation) shortened even more....we like doing stuff the VERY easy way down here.
OK is still the shortest in written form, and verbally they’re equal… two syllables. Besides, I prefer to think of it as being concise, not “doing stuff the VERY easy way."
That's because you're not a Southerner. Concise is a BIG complicated word to us and we like to keep it simple. ;-)
I know that you live in South Carolina now. Have you always lived there? What do you like most about the area? What most makes you want to pack up and leave tomorrow?
Yep- Born and bred South Carolina Girl. What I like most is we live so close to so many different areas....feel like a dip in the river? We're about 5 minutes from the closest one. Feel like a fishing trip to the lake? We're about a 30 minute drive to one. Feel like the mountains? Drive an hour (or two) you're there. The beach? No problem- it's about a four hour drive. South Carolina is honestly one of the most beautiful places on earth in the Autumn. The only things that make me want to pack up and try somewhere new is 1) the lack of snow in the wintertime...2)the unbearable heat and humidity in the summertime....and3) the Super-high unemployment rate- we're fourth in the nation. And that really sucks.
As far as the weather goes, I hear you saying that you only hate SC half of the time… winter and summer. It’s interesting that a born-and-bred Southern girl would “miss” the snow. You do realize that snow must be accompanied by cold weather, right?
Yeah, I realize it. Southern winters used to be different. Up until I was about 9 we actually HAD snow every winter, tho. Then we had NO snow for about 5 years and then we started having mostly ice-storms. I would be very happy with a white Christmas every few years- but that hasnt happened here since I was 8. I can deal with the cold much better than I'm dealing with the heat of the summers- maybe it's my age. :-P
Personally, I do better in the heat than the cold. Maybe we’re both in the wrong part of the country. Speaking of the weather, what is your ideal temperature range for outdoor activities? When was the last time you saw snow?
My ideal temp for indoor OR outdoor activities is in the 65-75 degree range, to which our utilities bill can attest. If I can wear a tee shirt or a turtleneck, I'm happy. The last proper snow with no ice storm mucking it up was in '86 or '87. 16 inches of pure ice- free snow. It was great!
Does SC have boom employment during good economic times? You see, my neck of the woods doesn’t have horrible unemployment, but then again, we don’t explode during the booms either.
Not really. It's pretty steady just BAD..only lately it's gotten even worse. Not just for the undereducated either. My son has a GED and finds occasional work as a handyman. My husband has the equivalent of two Associate Degrees AND a Bachelors and he can't find anything at all because he's "over-qualified" for minimum wage jobs. I really DO wanna move.
Where would you choose to go?
I definitely wouldn't choose a big city like NY or LA or Chicago....Nor Atlanta or Houston. Some place like Charleston or maybe even Cleveland or Boston would be great. Ideally, if I came into some money, I'd like to move to Montana. That's beautiful wide open spaces with no neighbors for miles and miles. My idea of Heaven.
It seems that you’ve had quite a few stressful events over the last few years. How do you keep your … ummm… Sunny disposition?
You're joking right? Have you READ my blogs? I swear I sometimes don't see how anyone even reads them anymore as much as I RANT about my "Misadventures". I actually feel sorry for Paul - I can barely live with myself sometimes- the man has the patience of Job, I think. Seriously, I just try to take one day at a time and look for that silver lining.....and the winning lottery numbers.
Yeah, I’ve read the blog… how else would I know about your trials and tribulations? I think that writing is a great coping mechanism.
City girl, or country girl?
Definitely Country girl- but I can hang with the "Country-CLUB" crowd just as easily.
Meaning what… that you’re able to keep up pretenses if required? Sorry, that was designed to be a slam on the country club snobs, not you.
That's exactly what I meant......or maybe I really am the country-club type and keep up the pretense of Country-girl. There's so many of my personas that sometimes I can't keep up with who's at bat. Scary, huh?
What’s your favorite type of music and why?
Hard Rock & Classical- Golden Earring, Ac/DC, ZZ Top- I love that hard hitting bass thumping for dancing.
Classical or Chamber music is my choice for relaxing, tho.
I remember reading a while back that you know a little bit about cars… you can at least appreciate them, and it sounds like you’ve done more than one tune-up in your day. What’s your favorite car of all time and why?
72 Challenger. I LOVE muscle cars and with no doubt in my mind the standard 318 was way superior in both performance and sound over the larger 400 or 440. My first car was a 65 Mustang Hard-top and since I couldn't afford to hire a mechanic- so I did the next best thing and took Automotive in 4-H. That year I won the State Automotive Championship trophy. The older model Muscle Cars are so much easier to work on than the new ones with not a half inch to spare in the engine bay to work on 'em....it's very therapeutic working on your own car, altho I rarely work on mine now. My son(s) do/did it for me since they turned into grown-ups, bless them.
How do you quantify the 318’s superior performance?
I'd say that the savings in gas alone from the smaller engine size would qualify. My ex had a matching Challenger with the 440 in it. I called it Hoover because it SUCKED the fuel like nobody's business And despite the fact that it was a bigger engine- my Challenger with the 318 walked all OVER it everytime we raced them. And we did that alot. It was like it was almost too much power for the car and did more damage than good.............. Did I mention how hyper-competitive I am?
Let me guess… the 440 did too much rubber spinning at the beginning of the race?Nope, it just seemed to hesitate and then did a lot of fishtailing all over the road- no control...or maybe it was just the driver...I never tried actually racing it myself- I only drove that hunk-of-junk when I had to go to the parts shop when mine was on the rack for maintenance.....that and the fact I liked being in the WINNING CAR!
Is automotive work the only mechanical skill you have, or are you mechanically inclined in general? Who’s more handy, you or Paul?
LOL- yep- I have failed every single skills and dexterity test I have ever taken for a job......except for my weapons test. But me being me- I can take anything together and put it back together because I have a system. :-).......Hmmm...who is more handy? Well, if you're talking about computers and such as that- Paul is much more handy. If you're talking other stuff, I think we're both about equal, altho we have COMPLETELY different styles getting to the same place and we usually disagree about the method while we are doing it. Usually one of us ends up just walking away and letting the other one take over the whole job rather than debate it all day.
Yeah, I’ve heard that Paul’s kind of a masterdebater.
Yep- and I'm a mom and neither of us like to give way.
Who’s a better cook, you or Paul?
Difficult........I have a certificate in Culinary Arts, but I detest proper COOKING...Paul excels at it so he cooks more than me unless we 're having the whole family over for a get-together. I BAKE much better (and more)than him(so far as I have seen), so I do most all the baking. It works.
How did you end up doing Culinary Arts? Is it the proper part that you don’t like… and what constitutes proper, the presentation? Tell me more about your culinary experience. Did you ever work as a chef? Going to the baking aspect, what’s your favorite thing to bake and why? Is there a reason you like baking better than cooking?
I started it in high school as an elective course. Actually, it began earlier than that- in 4-H. As for the proper part.....I got my certificate- with MUCHO difficulty. I'm a cook who likes to experiment and try different things and do things MY way- not by the textbook. That's what bothered me. I worked as a chef at a local dinner restaurant for a while and I just got bored with the same things night after night and decided that it would have to be put aside as a career.
Baking........I love doing cakes. I have a LONG List of cakes I bake and get requests for. Around the holidays are my busy time for baking...not only for my own family but for special orders as well. My favorite used to be a Southern Buttermilk Poundcake, but now I have so many it's hard to choose one as a favorite. Boston Cream Pie Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Chocolate Decadence cake, Chocolate Covered Cherry Cake, Pina Colada Cake, How do you choose?
Cheese-cake? (Evan grins at his witty play on words.)That's the only kind of cake I prefer to buy.I really should invest in a springform pan so I can perfect my skills on it.
There are things that couples love about one another, and there are things that are …. Ummm… less loveable. What’s your favorite thing about your husband, and what drives you nuts? How would he answer these same questions about you?
My favorite thing about Paul is he can always make me laugh and makes me happier than I have ever been. The thing that drives me nuts about him is his short term memory is horrible because of his sleep deprivation when he was working and putting himself thru university. Sometimes we have the same conversation three or four times and it drives me mad because I sometimes think I sound more like his mom than his wife and that makes me feel horrible.
I think if he answered those same questions about me he would say the thing he likes least about me is that I talk incessantly and do annoying stuff just to get a reaction out of him. I honestly have no idea what is his favorite thing about me.....I'd have to ask him and he probably would say something weird just to annoy me....two can play that game, you know.
It’s no secret that you two have a significant age difference between you. How did your family react, and what do they think now?
Well, my kids were okay with it as long as I was happy. My mom was okay with it, Dad was a bit cooler to the idea at first. My sisters were indifferent, one brother stood back and took a wait and see attitude, while the other thought all Paul was after was a green card.
Now- The kids are still fine with it, as is the rest of the family -as far as we can tell....and if anyone isn't- then too effing bad.
Do people ever assume you’re NOT together when you do stuff together, like go on dates? Do you ever notice funny reactions? How do you react? (BTW, some day I’d love to hear you two in the same conversation… maybe singing a song together or something like that… I think it would probably be hysterical at first!!)
I don't think anyone has ever raised an eyebrow to us as a couple....especially since Paul is usually the more mature acting one of us. I look and act younger than I am, Paul looks and acts more mature than his age so it equals out.The only reaction we get is when they hear Paul's accent and then the questions start. As for us talking....well, maybe someday!!! You never know when we might do something wild and crazy like that for you guys!! Or maybe we can set up a SKYPE conversation some day!
That’d be cool. Or you could hop on the mic next time Paul and I chat on Xbox Live.
That'd be awesome- but he saves that for when I'm at work. Occasionally we do see you online when we're watching/playing 1Vs100, tho.
I know that Paul is an atheist, and I believe that you’re Christian. How does that work out for the two of you?
Yes- Paul says he's an Atheist- but to me, just listening to him, he sounds more agnostic than atheist. I personally follow many paths. I was raised a Southern Baptist- but became disillusioned to religion early on in my teen years. Since coming of age- I say I'm more agnostic than anything...I believe in a Higher Power but not particularly in the huge Human-like persona that is pictured in all the stories of God. I believe in an afterlife. I believe in some of the Wiccan beliefs but not the main beliefs of a Mother Earth Goddess. I believe in Demons and Spirits. I also subscribe to Paul's rules of life....I try to be a good person and do unto others.....
And Paul and I don't talk about religion much.
The Southern Baptists retarded my spiritual growth as well. Too much focus on the angry, vengeful God… totally overlooking the loving, forgiving guy.
Yeah it's a total bitch to be scared of God. Sometimes I worry that I didn't do enough when it came to my kids spiritual/religious learning tho. I didn't insist they go to church, altho during my search for a 'religion" that "Fit" me, I did give them a taste of lots of different religions. We tried Pentecostal churches, less strict Baptist churches, Lutheran churches, Methodist churches and even a Catholic church. They were exposed to a lot of different views and I tried to let them decide for themselves.
I think that everyone is destined to find their own answer, regardless of the amount of influence they received from their parents.
It seems that you like to play some games on the computer, but you’re not into gaming like Paul and Kato are. How do you react when Paul gets so into gaming that the whole rest of the world ceases to exist for him?
I don't let it bother me too much. I just go about my business doing MY fun stuff.....FarmTown, YoVille, Reading, Cleaning house, baking. After about 4 or 5 hours tho- I start that annoying stuff so he will pay attention to me. I think that's fair- and to be perfectly honest, Paul RARELY goes on the XBox when I'm home..... unless we are playing 1 VS 100 together. He's usually the one telling me to "Geeeeet Offfff Itttt" about me being on the computer so much. I have an addictive personality and I fixate on one thing and get totally into it for weeks or months at a time. Much to his dismay, I just cannot get into Rock Band- probably because he picks stuff up so easily and it takes me longer and I have a frustration level of ZERO. That's just not very RELAXING to me.
Tell us more some of the “MY fun stuff” things you like to do.
I have a cycle.....when the weather is nice(meaning not so hot you can't breathe or so cold it takes your breath away) I like to do outside stuff. I like fishing and shooting. I like shooting hoops and pitching horse-shoes and badminton. I like Tennis but you'd think I was Hank Aaron when I'm on the court- so that's not a really good game for me.I indulge in my trashy romance novels sometimes, but I'll read anything except tech manuals. I crochet in the winter, and I LOVE to dance but we don't have room to dance where we live now. That sucks. I love to go on day-trips on the spur of the moment with Paul, too. It's one of my Guilty Pleasures. I'll do whatever for weeks or months til I get good at it or bored with it- then burn out and start something else.
Motorcycle or bicycle? How well do you shoot? Do you prefer shotgun, rifle or pistol?
LOVE motorcycles, but haven't ridden one since I sold my Indian Racing bike. It knew two speeds- sitting still and wide-open. I got tired of being thrown off it every time I tried to ride it , so I sold it and then life got in my way and I haven't owned one since. I'd LOVE to own a little Honda Rebel of my own someday, tho. Bikes(as in Bicycle) scare the crap out of me, to be honest, altho I do own one. As for weapons, I own a Glock 9....and am a qualified Expert Marksman with it. (Ask Paul about the first time he saw me shoot....That was FUNNY.) I am also EM with a S&W 38, and I prefer handguns to long-guns, but if I had to choose- I'd prefer a sniper rifle over any shotgun...much to Paul's chagrin. He seems to prefer destructive ability in a weapon- I prefer precision and neatness.
How did you decide that you wanted to do law enforcement?
To be brutally honest- I was a battered woman. My first husband was....well, if you watch the Farrah movie "The Burning Bed" you'll see exactly what it was like. After seven years of living with it and of listening to the put-downs and putting up with the black eyes and bloodied lips and beatings and degradation, I had had enough. I was scared to death of him and his threats and so when I finally got him out of the house and away from me and the kids with the help of my parents, I decided 2 things. 1) I would NEVER let that happen to me again and the best way to do that was to become law enforcement and 2) even if I didn't become a proper cop -which I did, but hated- it was good to have connections in the right places. Besides- you get excellent weapons training- you never know when it might come in handy.
There’s a pun in there… brutally honest, battered woman. How long were you a “proper” cop, and why did you dislike it so much? Do you like what you’re doing now?
LOL- I didn't see that til you pointed it out. I was a "proper cop" for about a year. I hated the "good ole boy" mindset of the commanders. I quickly learned that they didn't care about their officers as long as they had the cushy jobs for themselves. It's hard to explain- but suffice it to say I raised such a stink about a few issues that when told I was told that if I didn't "comply" I might want to think about other employment. So I went home, made one phone call and then turned in my uniforms the next day. The chief was astonished for some UNGODLY reason and asked if I was going to work notice. I told him that HE was the one that had told me the evening before that if I wasn't going to "comply" I might want to look into other employment and since I had no intentions on "Complying" to a policy that put my fellow officers at risk, I considered THAT my notice. I was black-balled, but since I don't EVER plan on going back into that part of Law-enforcement again- who cares? I still have my connections at the LEC and when it comes to something that I really believe in- I put my money where my mouth is. I-Don't-PLAY.
I work Private security for an elective surgery hospital now and I LOVE it. We don't have an emergency room so we have a nice quiet place to work. The worst we usually have to worry about is a smash and grab when someone leaves their GPS out in the open overnight or if we have someone walk into the lobby thinking we have an ER and we have to call a Code. We DO have to do all the extra training tho for all the contingencies. We have LOADS of training for TACT, weapons, hostage situations, Disasters of ALL sorts....the list goes on and on.... I told the regional director the other night that they can stop sending the promotional opportunities updates to us, because we all are happy where we are and plan on retiring from there. She thought I was joking....I wasn't.
Being a mother, wife and workforce drone are all really full time expectations… especially when you’re the primary breadwinner. Are you satisfied with how you’ve balanced things now that some time has passed? What would you do differently? What would you not change in a million years?
Nope- I'm not happy with the balance of things now, to be honest. I work way too much, I don't rest as much as I need to, I don't excersize like I should and I don't eat right. I fit right in with the rest of the world, tho. If I had it to do over- I would have followed my dreams instead of doing what everyone else thought was "proper' and then I would have been able to have had the things I wanted and spent my time much more wisely than I have. There's always the future tho!! What I wouldn't have changed in a million years- having my kids. They are the light of my life and along with Paul, my only reasons to keep living.
What are some of your unfulfilled dreams?
I would have liked to have been an architect when I was younger. Now- I just want Paul and myself to have a comfortable income and more than anything -I want a proper house of my own again. Big Dream- a proper house with a small Pool. I don't ask for much..I'm a simple woman(I wouldn't GO there if I was y'all, so stop smiling) with simple dreams.......(Is there such a thing???)
How about a double-wide with a kiddie pool ;) And have you noticed that you’ve implemented a lot of Paul’s words into your own vocabulary?
To be honest- A double-wide with a REGULAR pool would suit me just fine...have you SEEN any doublewides lately? I've seen some that would make stick built houses look sad. And yes- I have noticed my vocabulary has expanded to include a LOT of Paul's words......but he just laughs at me when he hears me saying them...he says "arse" sounds so vulgar said in a Southern Accent.
I, of course, don't think my southern accent is that heavy...unless I'm sick, and then I admit I sound like a corn-pone, or Scarlett O'Hara and a whiny one at that.
My favorite catch-all question… what question did you expect me to ask that I haven’t, and what’s your answer to that question?
You actually asked the question I didn't expect you to ask....it was the one about is there anything I would have changed or not changed for anything. You're actually pretty good at this interview thing!!
Hmmm… where to start, where to start… I guess I’ll just write some questions and see where it takes us…
Okies!!!(don't you just HATE when people say that? Me too!!!)
Never heard okies… I’ve always been an okey-dokey type myself.
LOL- It's just Okie-Dokie(southern variation) shortened even more....we like doing stuff the VERY easy way down here.
OK is still the shortest in written form, and verbally they’re equal… two syllables. Besides, I prefer to think of it as being concise, not “doing stuff the VERY easy way."
That's because you're not a Southerner. Concise is a BIG complicated word to us and we like to keep it simple. ;-)
I know that you live in South Carolina now. Have you always lived there? What do you like most about the area? What most makes you want to pack up and leave tomorrow?
Yep- Born and bred South Carolina Girl. What I like most is we live so close to so many different areas....feel like a dip in the river? We're about 5 minutes from the closest one. Feel like a fishing trip to the lake? We're about a 30 minute drive to one. Feel like the mountains? Drive an hour (or two) you're there. The beach? No problem- it's about a four hour drive. South Carolina is honestly one of the most beautiful places on earth in the Autumn. The only things that make me want to pack up and try somewhere new is 1) the lack of snow in the wintertime...2)the unbearable heat and humidity in the summertime....and3) the Super-high unemployment rate- we're fourth in the nation. And that really sucks.
As far as the weather goes, I hear you saying that you only hate SC half of the time… winter and summer. It’s interesting that a born-and-bred Southern girl would “miss” the snow. You do realize that snow must be accompanied by cold weather, right?
Yeah, I realize it. Southern winters used to be different. Up until I was about 9 we actually HAD snow every winter, tho. Then we had NO snow for about 5 years and then we started having mostly ice-storms. I would be very happy with a white Christmas every few years- but that hasnt happened here since I was 8. I can deal with the cold much better than I'm dealing with the heat of the summers- maybe it's my age. :-P
Personally, I do better in the heat than the cold. Maybe we’re both in the wrong part of the country. Speaking of the weather, what is your ideal temperature range for outdoor activities? When was the last time you saw snow?
My ideal temp for indoor OR outdoor activities is in the 65-75 degree range, to which our utilities bill can attest. If I can wear a tee shirt or a turtleneck, I'm happy. The last proper snow with no ice storm mucking it up was in '86 or '87. 16 inches of pure ice- free snow. It was great!
Does SC have boom employment during good economic times? You see, my neck of the woods doesn’t have horrible unemployment, but then again, we don’t explode during the booms either.
Not really. It's pretty steady just BAD..only lately it's gotten even worse. Not just for the undereducated either. My son has a GED and finds occasional work as a handyman. My husband has the equivalent of two Associate Degrees AND a Bachelors and he can't find anything at all because he's "over-qualified" for minimum wage jobs. I really DO wanna move.
Where would you choose to go?
I definitely wouldn't choose a big city like NY or LA or Chicago....Nor Atlanta or Houston. Some place like Charleston or maybe even Cleveland or Boston would be great. Ideally, if I came into some money, I'd like to move to Montana. That's beautiful wide open spaces with no neighbors for miles and miles. My idea of Heaven.
It seems that you’ve had quite a few stressful events over the last few years. How do you keep your … ummm… Sunny disposition?
You're joking right? Have you READ my blogs? I swear I sometimes don't see how anyone even reads them anymore as much as I RANT about my "Misadventures". I actually feel sorry for Paul - I can barely live with myself sometimes- the man has the patience of Job, I think. Seriously, I just try to take one day at a time and look for that silver lining.....and the winning lottery numbers.
Yeah, I’ve read the blog… how else would I know about your trials and tribulations? I think that writing is a great coping mechanism.
City girl, or country girl?
Definitely Country girl- but I can hang with the "Country-CLUB" crowd just as easily.
Meaning what… that you’re able to keep up pretenses if required? Sorry, that was designed to be a slam on the country club snobs, not you.
That's exactly what I meant......or maybe I really am the country-club type and keep up the pretense of Country-girl. There's so many of my personas that sometimes I can't keep up with who's at bat. Scary, huh?
What’s your favorite type of music and why?
Hard Rock & Classical- Golden Earring, Ac/DC, ZZ Top- I love that hard hitting bass thumping for dancing.
Classical or Chamber music is my choice for relaxing, tho.
I remember reading a while back that you know a little bit about cars… you can at least appreciate them, and it sounds like you’ve done more than one tune-up in your day. What’s your favorite car of all time and why?
72 Challenger. I LOVE muscle cars and with no doubt in my mind the standard 318 was way superior in both performance and sound over the larger 400 or 440. My first car was a 65 Mustang Hard-top and since I couldn't afford to hire a mechanic- so I did the next best thing and took Automotive in 4-H. That year I won the State Automotive Championship trophy. The older model Muscle Cars are so much easier to work on than the new ones with not a half inch to spare in the engine bay to work on 'em....it's very therapeutic working on your own car, altho I rarely work on mine now. My son(s) do/did it for me since they turned into grown-ups, bless them.
How do you quantify the 318’s superior performance?
I'd say that the savings in gas alone from the smaller engine size would qualify. My ex had a matching Challenger with the 440 in it. I called it Hoover because it SUCKED the fuel like nobody's business And despite the fact that it was a bigger engine- my Challenger with the 318 walked all OVER it everytime we raced them. And we did that alot. It was like it was almost too much power for the car and did more damage than good.............. Did I mention how hyper-competitive I am?
Let me guess… the 440 did too much rubber spinning at the beginning of the race?Nope, it just seemed to hesitate and then did a lot of fishtailing all over the road- no control...or maybe it was just the driver...I never tried actually racing it myself- I only drove that hunk-of-junk when I had to go to the parts shop when mine was on the rack for maintenance.....that and the fact I liked being in the WINNING CAR!
Is automotive work the only mechanical skill you have, or are you mechanically inclined in general? Who’s more handy, you or Paul?
LOL- yep- I have failed every single skills and dexterity test I have ever taken for a job......except for my weapons test. But me being me- I can take anything together and put it back together because I have a system. :-).......Hmmm...who is more handy? Well, if you're talking about computers and such as that- Paul is much more handy. If you're talking other stuff, I think we're both about equal, altho we have COMPLETELY different styles getting to the same place and we usually disagree about the method while we are doing it. Usually one of us ends up just walking away and letting the other one take over the whole job rather than debate it all day.
Yeah, I’ve heard that Paul’s kind of a masterdebater.
Yep- and I'm a mom and neither of us like to give way.
Who’s a better cook, you or Paul?
Difficult........I have a certificate in Culinary Arts, but I detest proper COOKING...Paul excels at it so he cooks more than me unless we 're having the whole family over for a get-together. I BAKE much better (and more)than him(so far as I have seen), so I do most all the baking. It works.
How did you end up doing Culinary Arts? Is it the proper part that you don’t like… and what constitutes proper, the presentation? Tell me more about your culinary experience. Did you ever work as a chef? Going to the baking aspect, what’s your favorite thing to bake and why? Is there a reason you like baking better than cooking?
I started it in high school as an elective course. Actually, it began earlier than that- in 4-H. As for the proper part.....I got my certificate- with MUCHO difficulty. I'm a cook who likes to experiment and try different things and do things MY way- not by the textbook. That's what bothered me. I worked as a chef at a local dinner restaurant for a while and I just got bored with the same things night after night and decided that it would have to be put aside as a career.
Baking........I love doing cakes. I have a LONG List of cakes I bake and get requests for. Around the holidays are my busy time for baking...not only for my own family but for special orders as well. My favorite used to be a Southern Buttermilk Poundcake, but now I have so many it's hard to choose one as a favorite. Boston Cream Pie Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Chocolate Decadence cake, Chocolate Covered Cherry Cake, Pina Colada Cake, How do you choose?
Cheese-cake? (Evan grins at his witty play on words.)That's the only kind of cake I prefer to buy.I really should invest in a springform pan so I can perfect my skills on it.
There are things that couples love about one another, and there are things that are …. Ummm… less loveable. What’s your favorite thing about your husband, and what drives you nuts? How would he answer these same questions about you?
My favorite thing about Paul is he can always make me laugh and makes me happier than I have ever been. The thing that drives me nuts about him is his short term memory is horrible because of his sleep deprivation when he was working and putting himself thru university. Sometimes we have the same conversation three or four times and it drives me mad because I sometimes think I sound more like his mom than his wife and that makes me feel horrible.
I think if he answered those same questions about me he would say the thing he likes least about me is that I talk incessantly and do annoying stuff just to get a reaction out of him. I honestly have no idea what is his favorite thing about me.....I'd have to ask him and he probably would say something weird just to annoy me....two can play that game, you know.
It’s no secret that you two have a significant age difference between you. How did your family react, and what do they think now?
Well, my kids were okay with it as long as I was happy. My mom was okay with it, Dad was a bit cooler to the idea at first. My sisters were indifferent, one brother stood back and took a wait and see attitude, while the other thought all Paul was after was a green card.
Now- The kids are still fine with it, as is the rest of the family -as far as we can tell....and if anyone isn't- then too effing bad.
Do people ever assume you’re NOT together when you do stuff together, like go on dates? Do you ever notice funny reactions? How do you react? (BTW, some day I’d love to hear you two in the same conversation… maybe singing a song together or something like that… I think it would probably be hysterical at first!!)
I don't think anyone has ever raised an eyebrow to us as a couple....especially since Paul is usually the more mature acting one of us. I look and act younger than I am, Paul looks and acts more mature than his age so it equals out.The only reaction we get is when they hear Paul's accent and then the questions start. As for us talking....well, maybe someday!!! You never know when we might do something wild and crazy like that for you guys!! Or maybe we can set up a SKYPE conversation some day!
That’d be cool. Or you could hop on the mic next time Paul and I chat on Xbox Live.
That'd be awesome- but he saves that for when I'm at work. Occasionally we do see you online when we're watching/playing 1Vs100, tho.
I know that Paul is an atheist, and I believe that you’re Christian. How does that work out for the two of you?
Yes- Paul says he's an Atheist- but to me, just listening to him, he sounds more agnostic than atheist. I personally follow many paths. I was raised a Southern Baptist- but became disillusioned to religion early on in my teen years. Since coming of age- I say I'm more agnostic than anything...I believe in a Higher Power but not particularly in the huge Human-like persona that is pictured in all the stories of God. I believe in an afterlife. I believe in some of the Wiccan beliefs but not the main beliefs of a Mother Earth Goddess. I believe in Demons and Spirits. I also subscribe to Paul's rules of life....I try to be a good person and do unto others.....
And Paul and I don't talk about religion much.
The Southern Baptists retarded my spiritual growth as well. Too much focus on the angry, vengeful God… totally overlooking the loving, forgiving guy.
Yeah it's a total bitch to be scared of God. Sometimes I worry that I didn't do enough when it came to my kids spiritual/religious learning tho. I didn't insist they go to church, altho during my search for a 'religion" that "Fit" me, I did give them a taste of lots of different religions. We tried Pentecostal churches, less strict Baptist churches, Lutheran churches, Methodist churches and even a Catholic church. They were exposed to a lot of different views and I tried to let them decide for themselves.
I think that everyone is destined to find their own answer, regardless of the amount of influence they received from their parents.
It seems that you like to play some games on the computer, but you’re not into gaming like Paul and Kato are. How do you react when Paul gets so into gaming that the whole rest of the world ceases to exist for him?
I don't let it bother me too much. I just go about my business doing MY fun stuff.....FarmTown, YoVille, Reading, Cleaning house, baking. After about 4 or 5 hours tho- I start that annoying stuff so he will pay attention to me. I think that's fair- and to be perfectly honest, Paul RARELY goes on the XBox when I'm home..... unless we are playing 1 VS 100 together. He's usually the one telling me to "Geeeeet Offfff Itttt" about me being on the computer so much. I have an addictive personality and I fixate on one thing and get totally into it for weeks or months at a time. Much to his dismay, I just cannot get into Rock Band- probably because he picks stuff up so easily and it takes me longer and I have a frustration level of ZERO. That's just not very RELAXING to me.
Tell us more some of the “MY fun stuff” things you like to do.
I have a cycle.....when the weather is nice(meaning not so hot you can't breathe or so cold it takes your breath away) I like to do outside stuff. I like fishing and shooting. I like shooting hoops and pitching horse-shoes and badminton. I like Tennis but you'd think I was Hank Aaron when I'm on the court- so that's not a really good game for me.I indulge in my trashy romance novels sometimes, but I'll read anything except tech manuals. I crochet in the winter, and I LOVE to dance but we don't have room to dance where we live now. That sucks. I love to go on day-trips on the spur of the moment with Paul, too. It's one of my Guilty Pleasures. I'll do whatever for weeks or months til I get good at it or bored with it- then burn out and start something else.
Motorcycle or bicycle? How well do you shoot? Do you prefer shotgun, rifle or pistol?
LOVE motorcycles, but haven't ridden one since I sold my Indian Racing bike. It knew two speeds- sitting still and wide-open. I got tired of being thrown off it every time I tried to ride it , so I sold it and then life got in my way and I haven't owned one since. I'd LOVE to own a little Honda Rebel of my own someday, tho. Bikes(as in Bicycle) scare the crap out of me, to be honest, altho I do own one. As for weapons, I own a Glock 9....and am a qualified Expert Marksman with it. (Ask Paul about the first time he saw me shoot....That was FUNNY.) I am also EM with a S&W 38, and I prefer handguns to long-guns, but if I had to choose- I'd prefer a sniper rifle over any shotgun...much to Paul's chagrin. He seems to prefer destructive ability in a weapon- I prefer precision and neatness.
How did you decide that you wanted to do law enforcement?
To be brutally honest- I was a battered woman. My first husband was....well, if you watch the Farrah movie "The Burning Bed" you'll see exactly what it was like. After seven years of living with it and of listening to the put-downs and putting up with the black eyes and bloodied lips and beatings and degradation, I had had enough. I was scared to death of him and his threats and so when I finally got him out of the house and away from me and the kids with the help of my parents, I decided 2 things. 1) I would NEVER let that happen to me again and the best way to do that was to become law enforcement and 2) even if I didn't become a proper cop -which I did, but hated- it was good to have connections in the right places. Besides- you get excellent weapons training- you never know when it might come in handy.
There’s a pun in there… brutally honest, battered woman. How long were you a “proper” cop, and why did you dislike it so much? Do you like what you’re doing now?
LOL- I didn't see that til you pointed it out. I was a "proper cop" for about a year. I hated the "good ole boy" mindset of the commanders. I quickly learned that they didn't care about their officers as long as they had the cushy jobs for themselves. It's hard to explain- but suffice it to say I raised such a stink about a few issues that when told I was told that if I didn't "comply" I might want to think about other employment. So I went home, made one phone call and then turned in my uniforms the next day. The chief was astonished for some UNGODLY reason and asked if I was going to work notice. I told him that HE was the one that had told me the evening before that if I wasn't going to "comply" I might want to look into other employment and since I had no intentions on "Complying" to a policy that put my fellow officers at risk, I considered THAT my notice. I was black-balled, but since I don't EVER plan on going back into that part of Law-enforcement again- who cares? I still have my connections at the LEC and when it comes to something that I really believe in- I put my money where my mouth is. I-Don't-PLAY.
I work Private security for an elective surgery hospital now and I LOVE it. We don't have an emergency room so we have a nice quiet place to work. The worst we usually have to worry about is a smash and grab when someone leaves their GPS out in the open overnight or if we have someone walk into the lobby thinking we have an ER and we have to call a Code. We DO have to do all the extra training tho for all the contingencies. We have LOADS of training for TACT, weapons, hostage situations, Disasters of ALL sorts....the list goes on and on.... I told the regional director the other night that they can stop sending the promotional opportunities updates to us, because we all are happy where we are and plan on retiring from there. She thought I was joking....I wasn't.
Being a mother, wife and workforce drone are all really full time expectations… especially when you’re the primary breadwinner. Are you satisfied with how you’ve balanced things now that some time has passed? What would you do differently? What would you not change in a million years?
Nope- I'm not happy with the balance of things now, to be honest. I work way too much, I don't rest as much as I need to, I don't excersize like I should and I don't eat right. I fit right in with the rest of the world, tho. If I had it to do over- I would have followed my dreams instead of doing what everyone else thought was "proper' and then I would have been able to have had the things I wanted and spent my time much more wisely than I have. There's always the future tho!! What I wouldn't have changed in a million years- having my kids. They are the light of my life and along with Paul, my only reasons to keep living.
What are some of your unfulfilled dreams?
I would have liked to have been an architect when I was younger. Now- I just want Paul and myself to have a comfortable income and more than anything -I want a proper house of my own again. Big Dream- a proper house with a small Pool. I don't ask for much..I'm a simple woman(I wouldn't GO there if I was y'all, so stop smiling) with simple dreams.......(Is there such a thing???)
How about a double-wide with a kiddie pool ;) And have you noticed that you’ve implemented a lot of Paul’s words into your own vocabulary?
To be honest- A double-wide with a REGULAR pool would suit me just fine...have you SEEN any doublewides lately? I've seen some that would make stick built houses look sad. And yes- I have noticed my vocabulary has expanded to include a LOT of Paul's words......but he just laughs at me when he hears me saying them...he says "arse" sounds so vulgar said in a Southern Accent.
I, of course, don't think my southern accent is that heavy...unless I'm sick, and then I admit I sound like a corn-pone, or Scarlett O'Hara and a whiny one at that.
My favorite catch-all question… what question did you expect me to ask that I haven’t, and what’s your answer to that question?
You actually asked the question I didn't expect you to ask....it was the one about is there anything I would have changed or not changed for anything. You're actually pretty good at this interview thing!!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
RayRay, Come on Down!
You're the next contestant on... oh, you get the point. I'm interviewing RayRay today. This interview will be a bit different than previous ones for reasons that will quickly become obvious... My words are in bold...
Here’s a nice ice breaker, to let the readers know that you and I have known each other for a while… and for a pop quiz… do you remember what year we met?
Wow.........I’m thinkin’ 19.........85 is when we actually 'spoke'
Yep, right on the money. Long time, eh?
I know; who knew we'd grow up to be able to say things like “I've known him for over 20 years!”
Yeah, I thought I’d be dead by 30. And once I realized that wasn’t going to happen, I didn’t think about the whole “I’ve known (whoever) for 20 years” until it had already happened.
When we were kids, you and some friends were in a band. Tell everyone the name of the band, and where you got the name.
It’s funny you should bring that up as I recently posted a pic from our yearbook on facebook. Our "band" as it was (seeing as how myself and the drummer were the only actual musicians) was called "Frontline". That name actually came from the guy taking our picture FOR the yearbook. I can't really remember how or why he came up with that.........but to a bunch of juniors in high school, it was da BOMB..............
Wasn’t it from the arcade game by the same name?
I know there was a Sunday morning 'panel show' of the same name......arcade game though, I’m not so sure.
Maybe this will jog your memory…
Nope...I don't remember it..............and it's not from the age thing!
I had always thought that if anyone I know was going to make it big in music, it would be you. What happened?
I appreciate the compliment! And yes, one would think with my playing guitar, banjo, mandolin, violin and a little piano, I'd be playin’ Vegas by now!
Vegas, Des Moines… CLEAR LAKE!!
I know, right? A group of guys I was jamming with about 14 years ago, ended up evolving into a decent band that played at the surf earlier this year! Talk about kicking myself in the arse!
Anyway, I guess my not pursuing music could be attributed to my first losing my chair in orchestra senior year, and then becoming a dad @ 21.
Losing your chair in orchestra?
I'd sat second chair for a few years by my senior year. When it came time to 'test' again, I was getting over the flu, so my playing was very sub-par. As a result, I got the next to the last chair of the first section. I was livid. The conductor wouldn't let me retest, even though he knew my playing was out of whack due to illness, but he had his 'star Asian girls' sitting first and second.
I ended up not even going to the next performance and was "let go" from high school orchestra. Nice huh?
I also remember how much you hated our boyhood town. You naturally gravitated toward larger cities filled with more excitement. But you ended up in a town that was even smaller than where we grew up. How did that happen, and do you still want to move to a larger city someday?
Ah yes, well, it's a familiar story: Boy meets girl. Boy knocks up girl. Boy feels ready to start a family. (Many years later…) Girl finds [new] bf on internet and moves family away from boy............ boy is stuck.
On a side note, back in 05 or so, I was ready to move to southern Wisconsin and get married, but then my ex moved BACK to this little town and I decided my boys were more important, so I stayed.
And yea, I'd really love to live in a larger city. My therapist says I NEED the stimulus of a larger city............true story............
If you could choose any city, which one would it be, and why?
Probably Cedar Rapids due to the fact that I know people there, and I've got some familiarity of the town.
Probably Cedar Rapids due to the fact that I know people there, and I've got some familiarity of the town.
Awwww… folks, he could choose to live anywhere, and he wants to be near his friend Evan! BTW, did you know that Cedar Rapids recently ranked in the top places NATIONALLY to bring up kids?
You’ve got an appreciation of cars. From my perspective, it’s not an affinity for muscle cars, but a love for vehicles as an art form. (Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on that assumption.) How did that love develop? What’s your favorite car (one that you owned)? What’s your least favorite car (ever made… not necessarily one that you’ve owned)?
It does seem like I gravitate towards muscle cars over exotic cars, but I still can appreciate the craftsmanship of a European speed demon.
I'm guessing my affection was brought on by the fact that when I was younger, my folks owned two 1955 Chevys, a 1968 Mercedes, a 1970 Duster, and my favorite car, which was owned by my mom, a 1960 Chevy Impala ragtop. SWEET ride.
I've owned some fine rides myself, starting off with my first ever self purchased car: a 1964 Cadillac I named "Tiffany"..........;)
I usually try to personalize my rides, taking a common vehicle and making it uncommon.
I usually try to personalize my rides, taking a common vehicle and making it uncommon.
I remember Tiffany… she was a fun ride. What’s the first thing you tend to do to a car that makes it yours?
It depends on the car I suppose. I really didn't start "personalizing" my rides until about 4 or 5 cars ago. That was a 1978 Ranchero. Nice ride. It was already black, so I added some custom wheels (which is the easiest way to make a vehicle your own), custom made some Plexiglas head light covers, and tinted the windows. Then two sets of aux. lights behind the grille, and voila! Usually, I go for lighting of some sort, tinting the windows and when $$ allows, wheels and tires.
Do you have any pictures of your favorite car that I could post with this interview?
You’re a divorced dad with two boys. The ex has primary custody, but you’ve got pretty good visitation rights. How do you handle being a single dad? What’s your favorite thing about being a single dad, and what bugs you most?
I 'handle' being a single dad, primarily because I have to. I still reel from the fact that in my opinion, I got juked by the court system in custody, but that's for another time. (That bugs the sh*t outta me still!!) I think the best thing about being a single dad is the fact that when they are with me, I don't have to share them with their mum!
I agree about being raked over the coals. I think that state law should have prevailed. (For those of you who aren’t familiar with Iowa custody law, it effectively says that shared custody is the norm. RayRay’s ex must have had a better lawyer, cuz that’s not how it turned out.)
Tell everyone about your job history. What’s been your least favorite job? (Detassling? [grin]) What’s been your favorite? What would be your dream job?
~breaks into song "GREEEEEEEEEEEEN ACRES IS THE PLACE.....FOR ME!!" That was a great time.
You thought that your blistering sunburn, and riding our ten speeds for two miles on gravel roads was a great time? But then again, we did have a lot of laughs.
Remember when our "supervisor" was giving us grief cuz we knew we were done, and he thought we weren't? walkin' down the rows pulling SOMEthing out of the stalks like he was bigshit.................what a tool!
Yeah, he was quite the @$$h0le.
I started out humbly as a bus boy, and then went directly into factory work. Presently I've worked for the same company going on 13 years now. The job, 9 years now, I like. The company blows though.
I currently make custom shaped aluminum storm doors and windows. Think of Bender (from Futurama) making windows!
So you get to drink beer on the job?!? Where do I sign up?
sadly not on the job.............however I KNOW our manager is crocked most of the time..........you can get buzzed just being in the same room as him. I really enjoy it because not only do I get to work with my hands, but it's become somewhat of an art form.
I do regret not going to college and getting into a career, but eh..........
Does that mean that your current job is your dream job?
Far from it. I'd really like to be able to build custom motorcycles. Yea, watching American Chopper made me realize this. Also, Jesse James is an influence.
I know you’re a big fan of comic books… you’ve talked a lot with my wife about them, and you did that satirical photo of you as “RayRay Kent” and “SuperRay.” Who’s YOUR favorite comic book dude, and why?
Hands down, Batman. As another of your "interviewees" put it, Bruce Wayne is just a regular guy that used his resources to become a hero and fight for what he believes in. I mean yeah, there are a LOT of awesome heroes, but with their powers, they didn't really choose to be heroes, ya know? Bruce made a conscious choice to do what he does, because he WANTS to. Clark does what he does because he can.
When you were a kid, you went by your middle name. Now that you’re an adult, you go by your first name. Tell me a bit about that.
Funny you mention that, because when I was going to my therapist after the divorce, she had an interesting insight: (you) want to make a change in your life, and also going by (your) first name you feel you can be taken more seriously, as an adult. Sounds good to me!
Tell us how RayRay likes to pass the time.
Driving around the RayRaymobile searching out injustice..............wouldn't that be COOL?!
Actually, I don’t' really do that much aside from spend WAY too much on the internet searching for the elusive soul mate. However, a few months ago, I pried myself away from that and started walking daily. In two months I lost almost 20 lbs! And even MORE recently, I adopted a 9 month old Chihuahua min-pin I've lovingly renamed........Bruce.....
What is a “min-pin?” How are you going to handle the walking thing this winter?
"Min-Pin" refers to miniature pincher. He's black with brown markings resembling those of a Doberman. As for walking him during the snowy season, maybe a treadmill and potty training?
Or maybe just some 'him-size' snow shoes so he doesn't get lost in the snow drifts.
Ummm, can I recommend potty training regardless of the weather? You could try house-breaking the dog too.
He's pretty well house broken already........although he does still have the minor mishap. MOSTLY liquid.
Did everyone notice how RayRay casually chose not to take the bait in my last question?
Most people I know either loved high school or hated it. How do you feel about high school and why?
I think if i'd had worried more about academics and less about social issues, I'd have gotten along much better.
What is your favorite memory from high school?
Playing the high school homecoming talent show with a revamped "Front Line". We ROCKED the joint.
We started off with Ted Nugent's "Free for all", followed it up with Iron Maidens "Run to the Hills", and and for the LIFE of me I can't remember our last song we did! I DO remember, however, that by the last song, students were trying to get to the gym floor and dance, but were being wrangled by teachers..............good times..............
Dude, that’s cool! Do you still play any guitar? (A little aside for our readers, RayRay came to my house in January and played some guitar with me. He’s good!)
Sadly, not as much as I'd like to.
You were born and raised in Iowa, right? How much have you traveled? Where’s your favorite place that you’ve actually visited? If you could go anywhere, where would it be?
I have relatives in both Texas and Missouri, so I've visited there. Otherwise, I've been to Pennsylvania (damn internet dating!), and living in Iowa, of COURSE I’ve been to Minnesota and Wisconsin. My fave place has become my uncles "spread" in NW Missouri. He's got a HUGE chunk of land where he's built a gorgeous 3 level home and has his own pool AND stocked fishing pond. It's my favorite place because for the past 3 years, it's where I've vacationed with my children.
… and someplace that you’d like to visit?
Scotland, or Asia. The former due to the fact that on my mum's side, I'm part Scottish AND there is a castle that the family name lays claim to. The latter, women.........
Castle RayRay? Never heard of it As for Asian women… well, no matter what I say I’m in trouble, so I’ll just keep my mouth shut. Just don’t go all Gary Glitter on us.
It's the Eileen Donnan, for those who'd like to Google it.
lol.....
Do you prefer sugary foods or salty foods?
Well, now that I'm watching what I eat, not so much on the sugary. Still like salty, but not too much salt. For a GOOD rush, I go for McD's fries and lick the box!
Here’s a question that I asked Paulius… did you notice that you look kind of like his twitter photo on his blog?
i've not seen his pic yet...............and i'm not stout! (Not anymore anyways!)
Here’s a link to Paulius’ pic on twitter.
Yea: separated at birth!
What question did you think I’d ask that I haven’t asked you yet?
Y am I single for going on 8 years?
Is this a trick ? lol
Speaking of still being single, and your earlier reference to looking for love on the internet, are you willing to share your story about eHarmony?
I’ll do ya one better, I’ll throw in my Plenty of Fish story as a bonus!
Ok, for anyone that's ever seen an eHarmony commercial will know, they boast, they use "29 dimensions to find you a mate"! Well, first off, I’m interested in 3-dimensions.....as in 3-d? BA dum bum.............but seriously folks, I spent at LEAST a few hours filling out the survey, being as honest and complete with my answers as possible. A day or so goes by, and I get an email/notification from them. It read something like "thank you for taking the time to fill out our survey, but at this time we don't have a match for you". um..............yea...............so I spend time on this damn thing, time I could have been looking at something like midget porn, from a site that claims to be the end all be all to finding love, and like Joe Pesche said in lethal weapon 2, "they F*CK you at the drive thru".
Ok, my Plenty of Fish story; for those of you not in the know, it's a free dating sight that allows you to communicate with people you see on the site. I met this one woman who lived 45 minutes away from me. Completely a doable situation. We exchanged messages and spoke on the phone for a couple weeks before decided to go on a date. Long story short, she brought her mom..................yea. I’ll just leave it at that.
As an added bonus, I'll leave you with a couple more RayRay car shots.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Interviewing Kato
Yes, dear readers, I've scored another interview. Today, I'm posting an interview with the renowned Kato... blogger, gamer and computer programmer. My words are in bold print.
Thanks for doing the interview, Kato!
Where did you come up with the name for your blog (WITFITS)?
Ahh, 2005. I remember it like it was 4 years ago. Perhaps the most difficult thing about starting a blog for the first time was coming up with a name. I wanted it to be generally representative of the type of content one might find on my blog, but be succinct enough to serve as a good Blogspot address. Memorable, witty, etc. I mulled a few computer and programmer-related terms ("core dump", "deadbeef", "null exception"), but finally settled upon the lesser known internet acronym: WITFITS. I have often wondered how many of my readers were even aware that it was an acronym for "What In The Fuck Is This Shit?" I felt it accurately described my purpose for blogging early on: ranting about odd stuff I'd come across (my first real post was about a guy dying from alcohol enemas) or just weird observations in general. It holds a double meaning, though, describing my own feelings about how my creative energies seem to come in bursts, as if I'm having "fits of wit" or "wit fits" which I would then document.
I remember that enema story. My best friend and I laughed about it for hours… until he asked me to give him one. I told him to ask his wife.
You know what they say, "What's an enema between you and a friend?" Wait, no one says that.
Where did you come up with your online name?
"Kato" is actually my real-life nickname, one used so commonly by a certain group of my friends that to them it IS my real name. The origin isn't terribly interesting and somewhat muddled now in my memory, but essentially it was bestowed upon me in college. A comment was made that a friend of mine and I were like a superhero and his sidekick (particularly since he stands about a half foot taller than me). He suggested that I was the Kato to his Green Hornet, and it just sorta stuck.
I started using the "Katonian" surname that sometimes follows my nickname online as a result of often needing a more unique name than "Kato" to identify myself with various services. It is an obviously ridiculous play on my nickname that ostensibly means "of or pertaining to Kato".
I wondered if it was a reference to Kato Kaelin… however O.J.’s buddy spelled his name.
People tend to assume that, but we both in fact get our name from the Green Hornet's sidekick, played famously by Bruce Lee.
Since you mentioned the Green Hornet, who’s your favorite comic book hero?
I think Batman has always been my favorite. I like that he is just a "regular" guy (albeit one who works out all the time and has a seemingly endless budget for high-tech gadgetry). The darker aspects of the character appeal to me as well. Superman is too "goody two-shoes" and how interesting is a guy who has so many super powers?
Oh, and if it counts, my favorite super villain (besides Dr. Katonian) is The Monarch from The Venture Bros.
My guess is that you're single, but you've cut way back on the blogging because you found a girl. Am I right? If so, tell me about her.
I'm unmarried, but I met a wonderful woman a little over two years ago who has blissfully ended my bachelorhood. She is, in many ways, perfect for me, a fellow geek who, much to my surprise loves me for my geekiness, not in spite of it. She also laughs at my jokes, which is really the true litmus test. Although focusing on my relationship with her has certainly contributed to my almost abandonment of regular blogging, it is not the only factor. I bought a house about a year ago and have discovered how much of a time-sink it is, albeit a mostly enjoyable one. I also have any number of unfinished personal side projects going on that take my time and attention, such as iHaloStats.com, my Halo 3 stats webapp for the iPhone. And then there's videogaming.
I can relate to “loves me for my geekiness, not in spite of it.” How did you meet? Did you buy the house together, or were you already planning to buy when you and the …. Ummm…. Little miss?? … met? What are you doing to the house? Is it a fixer-upper? Simple stuff like paint? Remodeling just to make the place your own? I’m asking cuz I kind of enjoy working on my house too.
The house is actually in really good shape--the people who have lived there over the years have taken pretty good care of it. It's my first house, and the majority of my projects tend to be aesthetic or practical, like painting and cleaning, or wiring network cable to every room, or grounding as many of the electrical outlets as possible (a task I honestly put little personal work into--my dad and a good friend of mine who are both way more versed kindly helped me out). I've got a wonderful large yard that requires its fair share of upkeep, too, and dabbled in some flower garden planting this summer. As for your other questions... for now I'm going to decline to answer in the interest of privacy :)
Is your iHaloStats.com something you’re doing for its own sake, or do you see yourself making money from the app someday? If you get famous, can I say “I knew him when…?”
It is totally something that I've done for its own sake, and for my own education. I did it to both fulfill a community need (a way to view Bungie.net's Halo stats on the iPhone in a sleeker, easier way) and as a way to learn more about a variety of programming topics, including web app development for the iPhone. iHaloStats is not something that would ever likely be for profit, both for legal reasons (my application relies solely on Intellectual Property that belongs to someone else) and for the simple fact that I wrote the site for people to use as a tool, not as a way to get rich. As for saying "I knew him when...", the whole process of developing iHaloStats has set me down the road of iPhone native app development, so maybe someday you'll be able to claim that you "know that guy who made that app that does that thing!"
I also understand that you like spending time on XBox LIVE. What's your favorite game, and why?
I could talk for hours about gaming, and there's probably no way I could single out a specific game that's my favorite (of all time). As a kid I was a big fan of the myriad Sierra games (such as Space Quest) and Baseball sims. In MicroLeague Baseball I would sit down and play "seasons" of games that I would schedule and actually keep a scorecard of the whole game, recording every out. Somewhere in there was a golden age of "flight sim" type games, and I gleefully blasted Imperial Tie Fighters and Rebel X-Wings with my trusty joystick in the games bearing their names. These were preceded by my tour of duty as a WWI flying ace in Red Baron. I was enamored with the flying machines and the "romance" of dogfighting, and I even kept a written flight log of my missions and promotions.
I used to be a PC gaming snob, and for a good span there I was really heavily into EA and DICE's Battlefield series, which has spawned probably a dozen titles/expansions by now. Consoles finally proved that they were capable of producing games on par visually with PCs, and I have been almost exclusively an Xbox 360 gamer for the past year and a half or so. The convenience of sitting on my couch, playing on a big screen, on a console that doesn't have driver issues or the other idiosyncrasies of PC-gaming, finally converted me.
I'm a fan of the Halo series of games and hop into Halo 3 now and again when I feel like getting my ass beat by pre-teens hopped up on Mountain Dew. I'm still playing Fallout 3 (and its many expansions) into which I've sunk an ungodly amount of time exploring the ruins of post-apocalypse D.C.
Currently, I'm playing the hell out of Red Faction: Guerilla, which leverages a mostly-destructible world for some really fun gameplay, both in single and multi player. The fact that you can deal with an adversary by opting to take out the building from under him is awesome (if not revolutionary). Also, it has jetpacks. JETPACKS.
I love Halo3 too, but kind of got tired of the sh!+ talking kids. And then there are the kids who just have an obscene amount of talent. My 16-year-old daughter has a friend who’s so good that he can no-scope snipe someone, while running, from half a screen away, virtually flawlessly. The guy is insanely skilled… I’ve never seen the likes of it! My brother-in-law turned me on to Fallout 3. He lent me the game and I finished it. I’m tempted to buy it and play it again as an ‘evil’ character. Are you interested in the new Halo 3: ODST?
In some ways I've always had a love/hate relationship with Halo multiplayer. It is a very refined, very well-developed experience. It is fun as hell, and it can call me back into its clutches quite easily. It has a huge community, and that's where the love/hate sort of expresses itself. I love that I can always find a game--that there are countless people playing at any given time. I hate that there are people that just do nothing but play ALL THE TIME and, of course, I seem to always get stuck in a game against them. I eventually stopped playing Halo 2 online because I thought the matchmaking was so bad--I would hop on with friends and it would be mismatch after mismatch. It just wasn't fun. I think Halo 3 has improved on that a great deal, but every multiplayer title suffers from the problem of how to accurately match up players so that it's fun and fair. Fortunately, early on I introduced the girlfriend to the Halo series, and she's always willing to team up with me and take on the shit-talking "kids" and no-scope fiends.
As for Fallout 3, at this point with the time I've invested in the game, I probably could have a Ph.D. by now, or have written 10 killer apps for the iPhone. But, what can I say, I love me some Nuka Cola.
I'm looking forward to Halo 3: ODST. The Halo Universe is an interesting one, and I welcome new stories that take place within. Plus, it has the voice talents of Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin (Mal and Jayne, from Firefly) as well as Tricia Helfer (Six, Battlestar Galactica).
What are some of your hobbies in the real world?
I'm the kind of person who always has a dozen just started or half-finish personal projects that will probably never see the light of day, so if you can call "multitasking" a hobby, then that would be one. I obviously enjoy videogames a great deal, but I'm a gamer in general, too. Put down just about any board, card, or strategy game in front of me, and I'll play it. I keep saying I'm going to start a 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons campaign for some friends but I never get around to it. I've had an on-and-off-again hobby of painting miniatures for several years now. I think it's really interesting and enjoyable, even relaxing at times, but I tend to do it in spurts (like most of my other hobbies), geeking out over it for awhile and then burning out and turning to other things. Blogging is still a hobby, and I've been leveraging my frequent game-playing by writing a weekly faux news column called "Katonian Press" at HawtyMcBloggy.com, a well-known gaming blog. Programming is perhaps my oldest hobby, and in spite of it being the crux of my career, I still enjoy doing it in my free time. Currently I'm supporting my webapp and learning to write applications for the iPhone. I've also become somewhat of an amateur birder along with my girlfriend. We live in a nice area that gets a lot of backyard birds and have spent the summer putting up feeders and houses, watching them come and go, learning to identify a bunch of different birds, and generally being entertained by them.
Dude! I could have written that paragraph! I originally thought that you might be hooked up with Hawty McBloggy. I suspect I’m wrong, but feel free to confirm or deny my suspicion.
Ha, no, she and I only know each other through the Internets and the Halo community. I've been a regular commenter on her blog for some time and after reading some of my stuff she thought my sense of humor and writing style might be a good fit for a weekly piece on HawtyMcbloggy. Also, she is happily married with kids in the Pacific Northwest, and I'm happily in a relationship (with pets) in Ohio.
Dungeons and Dragons… Tell me about your favorite role playing character. This must be a character that YOU played. Tell me about your favorite character that someone from your group played.
For all my interest in the game, my actual playing experience has been somewhat limited, games wedged in here and there, half-finished campaigns and one-off adventures. Years back I played an Elven Ranger in 3rd Edition who I sort of loosely modeled after Aragorn and Legolas from Lord of the Rings. He was calm and concise in action and speech, cool without being cocky, mysterious without being dark and broody. He saw himself as the protector of the party, particularly the "weaker" (i.e. magic-using) members. His devotion to the others and the party as a whole put him somewhat at odds with the rogue in the group who was brash and a risk-taker. I've always enjoy the concept of the ranger class, being particularly fond of the rangers found in Tolkien's writings (Aragorn, the rangers of the north, Faramir and the rangers of Ithilien, etc.) Also, he duel wielded (longsword/shortsword) which is just cool.
As for favorite characters from a group, I don't have any so much as I have memories for some specific roleplaying moments or exploits. There was the oft-picked on mage who had taken his name from the official random name generator and wound up with "Ashram" which our DM continually referred to as "Ass-Ram". There was a monk who took off in a full sprint and leapt up to grab a second-story balcony ledge to pull himself up and get the upper hand on an unsuspecting archer. Then there was the half-elven fighter who, in an attempt to ingratiate himself with some suspicious strangers in a tavern, sat himself on a barstool and opened with: "So, an Elf, a Dwarf, and a Halfling walk into a bar..."
Favorite board game? I love Axis and Allies.
Of all time I couldn't say (though I like anything sufficiently complex and intricate, like Axis and Allies and the like). I am currently really enjoying the excellent Battlestar Galactica game by Fantasy Flight Games.
We haven't heard from Dr. Katonian lately... is he hatching another master evil plan?
I always planned for Dr. Katonian to make more appearances, but it never quite worked out. He, like many good ideas, was conceived in the midst of a terrible fever I was running. He is still around, though. In fact, like everyone else, he's on Twitter! I would love to do more with him, and there is a plot hatching in the back of my mind, but whether or not it would ever reach fruition is tough to say.
Holy Balls! I never saw the original emergence of your evil counterpart. That’s hysterical. Homey don’t twitter though. But then again, I just got a Facebook account a couple of days ago. Kind of lame for a fellow computer geek, eh?
I'm a big fan of Twitter. It allows me to exercise my wit in a concise, constrained way. I can comment on all the little things that I never had time to blog about before. It also lets me track the exploits and thoughts of a lot of interesting people at one time. As for Facebook... I only recently myself joined and use it mostly to let people from high school know I haven't died yet.
Your blog says that you're a computer programmer. How do you like being a computer geek? Is it what you wanted to do growing up? If not, what did you want to do as a kid?
I've been a computer geek almost my whole life. My dad brought home our first computer when I was just a kid--an IBM PC clone made by the now defunct Leading Edge. I started learning to program almost right away, dabbling in BASIC on both the PC and pre-Mac era Apples. My dad was the one who got me interested in computers, sharing his own interest in them with me, and we spent time programming and building machines together. But I never really considered a career in computers. Honestly, I didn't really know what I wanted to go into until I was looking at colleges my senior year of High School. I discovered that the university I was most likely going to attend had a degree in "Computer Science", a term I didn't really understand at the time, but it was what was suggested to me based on my interest in programming. Once the courses really hit their stride midway through my college career, I knew that it was a good fit for me.
I have always enjoyed being a computer geek, although sometimes it wasn't easy. I learned to use a word processor (WordStar, in my case) early on, and my peers and teachers were very pro-computer/computer friendly. When I changed schools for middle school, I got hazed a bit for doing my homework on the computer. The other kids couldn't understand why I would "put all the work" into typing it up and making it look neat when I could do it "much faster" by hand on looseleaf. I never saw it that way--to me, using the computer was faster and easier. Oh how times have changed.
Being a programmer can be frustrating at times, but it's rewarding in its own right. A painter expresses himself through canvas, a writer through words, a programmer through his code. You have an incredible power to create and control when you're a programmer. I joke with coder buddies that all programmers have some degree of a God Complex: it is our utmost desire to make this machine bend to our will.
Wow! You’re O.G. (Original Geek or Original God-Complex… take your pick.)
As the talented and nerdy singer/songwriter Marian Call says, "I'll still be a geek after nobody thinks it's chic" Or to quote Weird Al: "Look at me I'm white and nerdy."
What kind of kid were you? Nerd? Jock? Student? Musician?
Not surprisingly, I was a nerd and a student. I started off as a pretty athletic kid (what kid doesn't run around a lot?) and really loved baseball. I probably even dreamed of being a Pro Baseball Player some day. But I was a small, scrawny lad, and so I never got too heavily into playing sports, becoming pretty bookish by middle-school. But I was, at least, a social nerd, and somewhat outgoing, going so far as to appear in a supporting role in our high school's senior musical. I dabbled a bit in music, learning some basic piano. In college I wanted to form my own hip hop group. I was nerdcore before it had a name.
Have you made peace with all of the swirlies you received as a child?
For the most part. Geeks rule the world. It is now we who administer the swirlies. Digitally. With our brains.
Has anyone ever seen you without your mask?
Yes, but there's just another mask behind the mask. (They were buy one get one free).
What question did you think I’d ask that I never got around asking you? What question do you want to ask me?
In terms of questions that you never got around to asking: "You used to blog regularly but you now seem to rarely update. Do you miss it? Is this the end of WITFITS?" I definitely miss writing regularly, it was a wonderful creative outlet. I had a great deal of fun relating amusing stories or odd things I had come across, and reveled in the occasional short story or fiction post. I miss the community of readers, however small, I managed to build around the site. There were a few of you out there who were dedicated commenters and I thank you for that--the comments were what made it all worthwhile. As for the end of WITFITS? I don't know. It feels like I once had mountains of free time during which I could while away hours crafting the perfect post, but now my attention is drawn in a dozen different directions. I will probably always have a tiny voice on the Internet, it may simply manifest itself in different ways at different times (blog, Twitter, direct brain interface, ...)
It’s interesting that you’re referring to blogging in the past tense.
A question for you: "Why did blogging appeal to you and what role has it served in your life?" And a selfish one, "Do you remember how in the hell you ever stumbled across my humble ramblings?"
I started blogging because I like writing. It’s given me a method of improving my technique and refining my style. Blogging has given me a way to tell myself that, to some extent, I AM a creative writer, without having to deal with all of the rejection that comes with being published in print. It’s also expanded my circle of friends somewhat. I’m a computer geek, but I’m also very firmly grounded in the physical world. While it’s difficult for me to say that someone I’ve never met is a friend, there are a few cases where this has happened. As for how I came across WITFITS, I discovered Paulius, Sunny and you within a few days of one another. I think that I ran into Sunny with the “Next Blog” button, she recommended Paulius, and he recommended you, but my exact sequence may be off.
If there was one blog you could recommend to my readers, what would it be?
Geeze, put me on the spot. Failblog.org is my current guilty pleasure, in spite of the Internet's overuse of the term "fail" and the fact that I think many of them are in fact "wins". I've also just recently discovered finslippy.com, which makes me question why I even bother to put words on paper when clearly there are others out there way more talented than me.
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Pistachio.
Thanks for doing the interview, Kato!
Where did you come up with the name for your blog (WITFITS)?
Ahh, 2005. I remember it like it was 4 years ago. Perhaps the most difficult thing about starting a blog for the first time was coming up with a name. I wanted it to be generally representative of the type of content one might find on my blog, but be succinct enough to serve as a good Blogspot address. Memorable, witty, etc. I mulled a few computer and programmer-related terms ("core dump", "deadbeef", "null exception"), but finally settled upon the lesser known internet acronym: WITFITS. I have often wondered how many of my readers were even aware that it was an acronym for "What In The Fuck Is This Shit?" I felt it accurately described my purpose for blogging early on: ranting about odd stuff I'd come across (my first real post was about a guy dying from alcohol enemas) or just weird observations in general. It holds a double meaning, though, describing my own feelings about how my creative energies seem to come in bursts, as if I'm having "fits of wit" or "wit fits" which I would then document.
I remember that enema story. My best friend and I laughed about it for hours… until he asked me to give him one. I told him to ask his wife.
You know what they say, "What's an enema between you and a friend?" Wait, no one says that.
Where did you come up with your online name?
"Kato" is actually my real-life nickname, one used so commonly by a certain group of my friends that to them it IS my real name. The origin isn't terribly interesting and somewhat muddled now in my memory, but essentially it was bestowed upon me in college. A comment was made that a friend of mine and I were like a superhero and his sidekick (particularly since he stands about a half foot taller than me). He suggested that I was the Kato to his Green Hornet, and it just sorta stuck.
I started using the "Katonian" surname that sometimes follows my nickname online as a result of often needing a more unique name than "Kato" to identify myself with various services. It is an obviously ridiculous play on my nickname that ostensibly means "of or pertaining to Kato".
I wondered if it was a reference to Kato Kaelin… however O.J.’s buddy spelled his name.
People tend to assume that, but we both in fact get our name from the Green Hornet's sidekick, played famously by Bruce Lee.
Since you mentioned the Green Hornet, who’s your favorite comic book hero?
I think Batman has always been my favorite. I like that he is just a "regular" guy (albeit one who works out all the time and has a seemingly endless budget for high-tech gadgetry). The darker aspects of the character appeal to me as well. Superman is too "goody two-shoes" and how interesting is a guy who has so many super powers?
Oh, and if it counts, my favorite super villain (besides Dr. Katonian) is The Monarch from The Venture Bros.
My guess is that you're single, but you've cut way back on the blogging because you found a girl. Am I right? If so, tell me about her.
I'm unmarried, but I met a wonderful woman a little over two years ago who has blissfully ended my bachelorhood. She is, in many ways, perfect for me, a fellow geek who, much to my surprise loves me for my geekiness, not in spite of it. She also laughs at my jokes, which is really the true litmus test. Although focusing on my relationship with her has certainly contributed to my almost abandonment of regular blogging, it is not the only factor. I bought a house about a year ago and have discovered how much of a time-sink it is, albeit a mostly enjoyable one. I also have any number of unfinished personal side projects going on that take my time and attention, such as iHaloStats.com, my Halo 3 stats webapp for the iPhone. And then there's videogaming.
I can relate to “loves me for my geekiness, not in spite of it.” How did you meet? Did you buy the house together, or were you already planning to buy when you and the …. Ummm…. Little miss?? … met? What are you doing to the house? Is it a fixer-upper? Simple stuff like paint? Remodeling just to make the place your own? I’m asking cuz I kind of enjoy working on my house too.
The house is actually in really good shape--the people who have lived there over the years have taken pretty good care of it. It's my first house, and the majority of my projects tend to be aesthetic or practical, like painting and cleaning, or wiring network cable to every room, or grounding as many of the electrical outlets as possible (a task I honestly put little personal work into--my dad and a good friend of mine who are both way more versed kindly helped me out). I've got a wonderful large yard that requires its fair share of upkeep, too, and dabbled in some flower garden planting this summer. As for your other questions... for now I'm going to decline to answer in the interest of privacy :)
Is your iHaloStats.com something you’re doing for its own sake, or do you see yourself making money from the app someday? If you get famous, can I say “I knew him when…?”
It is totally something that I've done for its own sake, and for my own education. I did it to both fulfill a community need (a way to view Bungie.net's Halo stats on the iPhone in a sleeker, easier way) and as a way to learn more about a variety of programming topics, including web app development for the iPhone. iHaloStats is not something that would ever likely be for profit, both for legal reasons (my application relies solely on Intellectual Property that belongs to someone else) and for the simple fact that I wrote the site for people to use as a tool, not as a way to get rich. As for saying "I knew him when...", the whole process of developing iHaloStats has set me down the road of iPhone native app development, so maybe someday you'll be able to claim that you "know that guy who made that app that does that thing!"
I also understand that you like spending time on XBox LIVE. What's your favorite game, and why?
I could talk for hours about gaming, and there's probably no way I could single out a specific game that's my favorite (of all time). As a kid I was a big fan of the myriad Sierra games (such as Space Quest) and Baseball sims. In MicroLeague Baseball I would sit down and play "seasons" of games that I would schedule and actually keep a scorecard of the whole game, recording every out. Somewhere in there was a golden age of "flight sim" type games, and I gleefully blasted Imperial Tie Fighters and Rebel X-Wings with my trusty joystick in the games bearing their names. These were preceded by my tour of duty as a WWI flying ace in Red Baron. I was enamored with the flying machines and the "romance" of dogfighting, and I even kept a written flight log of my missions and promotions.
I used to be a PC gaming snob, and for a good span there I was really heavily into EA and DICE's Battlefield series, which has spawned probably a dozen titles/expansions by now. Consoles finally proved that they were capable of producing games on par visually with PCs, and I have been almost exclusively an Xbox 360 gamer for the past year and a half or so. The convenience of sitting on my couch, playing on a big screen, on a console that doesn't have driver issues or the other idiosyncrasies of PC-gaming, finally converted me.
I'm a fan of the Halo series of games and hop into Halo 3 now and again when I feel like getting my ass beat by pre-teens hopped up on Mountain Dew. I'm still playing Fallout 3 (and its many expansions) into which I've sunk an ungodly amount of time exploring the ruins of post-apocalypse D.C.
Currently, I'm playing the hell out of Red Faction: Guerilla, which leverages a mostly-destructible world for some really fun gameplay, both in single and multi player. The fact that you can deal with an adversary by opting to take out the building from under him is awesome (if not revolutionary). Also, it has jetpacks. JETPACKS.
I love Halo3 too, but kind of got tired of the sh!+ talking kids. And then there are the kids who just have an obscene amount of talent. My 16-year-old daughter has a friend who’s so good that he can no-scope snipe someone, while running, from half a screen away, virtually flawlessly. The guy is insanely skilled… I’ve never seen the likes of it! My brother-in-law turned me on to Fallout 3. He lent me the game and I finished it. I’m tempted to buy it and play it again as an ‘evil’ character. Are you interested in the new Halo 3: ODST?
In some ways I've always had a love/hate relationship with Halo multiplayer. It is a very refined, very well-developed experience. It is fun as hell, and it can call me back into its clutches quite easily. It has a huge community, and that's where the love/hate sort of expresses itself. I love that I can always find a game--that there are countless people playing at any given time. I hate that there are people that just do nothing but play ALL THE TIME and, of course, I seem to always get stuck in a game against them. I eventually stopped playing Halo 2 online because I thought the matchmaking was so bad--I would hop on with friends and it would be mismatch after mismatch. It just wasn't fun. I think Halo 3 has improved on that a great deal, but every multiplayer title suffers from the problem of how to accurately match up players so that it's fun and fair. Fortunately, early on I introduced the girlfriend to the Halo series, and she's always willing to team up with me and take on the shit-talking "kids" and no-scope fiends.
As for Fallout 3, at this point with the time I've invested in the game, I probably could have a Ph.D. by now, or have written 10 killer apps for the iPhone. But, what can I say, I love me some Nuka Cola.
I'm looking forward to Halo 3: ODST. The Halo Universe is an interesting one, and I welcome new stories that take place within. Plus, it has the voice talents of Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin (Mal and Jayne, from Firefly) as well as Tricia Helfer (Six, Battlestar Galactica).
What are some of your hobbies in the real world?
I'm the kind of person who always has a dozen just started or half-finish personal projects that will probably never see the light of day, so if you can call "multitasking" a hobby, then that would be one. I obviously enjoy videogames a great deal, but I'm a gamer in general, too. Put down just about any board, card, or strategy game in front of me, and I'll play it. I keep saying I'm going to start a 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons campaign for some friends but I never get around to it. I've had an on-and-off-again hobby of painting miniatures for several years now. I think it's really interesting and enjoyable, even relaxing at times, but I tend to do it in spurts (like most of my other hobbies), geeking out over it for awhile and then burning out and turning to other things. Blogging is still a hobby, and I've been leveraging my frequent game-playing by writing a weekly faux news column called "Katonian Press" at HawtyMcBloggy.com, a well-known gaming blog. Programming is perhaps my oldest hobby, and in spite of it being the crux of my career, I still enjoy doing it in my free time. Currently I'm supporting my webapp and learning to write applications for the iPhone. I've also become somewhat of an amateur birder along with my girlfriend. We live in a nice area that gets a lot of backyard birds and have spent the summer putting up feeders and houses, watching them come and go, learning to identify a bunch of different birds, and generally being entertained by them.
Dude! I could have written that paragraph! I originally thought that you might be hooked up with Hawty McBloggy. I suspect I’m wrong, but feel free to confirm or deny my suspicion.
Ha, no, she and I only know each other through the Internets and the Halo community. I've been a regular commenter on her blog for some time and after reading some of my stuff she thought my sense of humor and writing style might be a good fit for a weekly piece on HawtyMcbloggy. Also, she is happily married with kids in the Pacific Northwest, and I'm happily in a relationship (with pets) in Ohio.
Dungeons and Dragons… Tell me about your favorite role playing character. This must be a character that YOU played. Tell me about your favorite character that someone from your group played.
For all my interest in the game, my actual playing experience has been somewhat limited, games wedged in here and there, half-finished campaigns and one-off adventures. Years back I played an Elven Ranger in 3rd Edition who I sort of loosely modeled after Aragorn and Legolas from Lord of the Rings. He was calm and concise in action and speech, cool without being cocky, mysterious without being dark and broody. He saw himself as the protector of the party, particularly the "weaker" (i.e. magic-using) members. His devotion to the others and the party as a whole put him somewhat at odds with the rogue in the group who was brash and a risk-taker. I've always enjoy the concept of the ranger class, being particularly fond of the rangers found in Tolkien's writings (Aragorn, the rangers of the north, Faramir and the rangers of Ithilien, etc.) Also, he duel wielded (longsword/shortsword) which is just cool.
As for favorite characters from a group, I don't have any so much as I have memories for some specific roleplaying moments or exploits. There was the oft-picked on mage who had taken his name from the official random name generator and wound up with "Ashram" which our DM continually referred to as "Ass-Ram". There was a monk who took off in a full sprint and leapt up to grab a second-story balcony ledge to pull himself up and get the upper hand on an unsuspecting archer. Then there was the half-elven fighter who, in an attempt to ingratiate himself with some suspicious strangers in a tavern, sat himself on a barstool and opened with: "So, an Elf, a Dwarf, and a Halfling walk into a bar..."
Favorite board game? I love Axis and Allies.
Of all time I couldn't say (though I like anything sufficiently complex and intricate, like Axis and Allies and the like). I am currently really enjoying the excellent Battlestar Galactica game by Fantasy Flight Games.
We haven't heard from Dr. Katonian lately... is he hatching another master evil plan?
I always planned for Dr. Katonian to make more appearances, but it never quite worked out. He, like many good ideas, was conceived in the midst of a terrible fever I was running. He is still around, though. In fact, like everyone else, he's on Twitter! I would love to do more with him, and there is a plot hatching in the back of my mind, but whether or not it would ever reach fruition is tough to say.
Holy Balls! I never saw the original emergence of your evil counterpart. That’s hysterical. Homey don’t twitter though. But then again, I just got a Facebook account a couple of days ago. Kind of lame for a fellow computer geek, eh?
I'm a big fan of Twitter. It allows me to exercise my wit in a concise, constrained way. I can comment on all the little things that I never had time to blog about before. It also lets me track the exploits and thoughts of a lot of interesting people at one time. As for Facebook... I only recently myself joined and use it mostly to let people from high school know I haven't died yet.
Your blog says that you're a computer programmer. How do you like being a computer geek? Is it what you wanted to do growing up? If not, what did you want to do as a kid?
I've been a computer geek almost my whole life. My dad brought home our first computer when I was just a kid--an IBM PC clone made by the now defunct Leading Edge. I started learning to program almost right away, dabbling in BASIC on both the PC and pre-Mac era Apples. My dad was the one who got me interested in computers, sharing his own interest in them with me, and we spent time programming and building machines together. But I never really considered a career in computers. Honestly, I didn't really know what I wanted to go into until I was looking at colleges my senior year of High School. I discovered that the university I was most likely going to attend had a degree in "Computer Science", a term I didn't really understand at the time, but it was what was suggested to me based on my interest in programming. Once the courses really hit their stride midway through my college career, I knew that it was a good fit for me.
I have always enjoyed being a computer geek, although sometimes it wasn't easy. I learned to use a word processor (WordStar, in my case) early on, and my peers and teachers were very pro-computer/computer friendly. When I changed schools for middle school, I got hazed a bit for doing my homework on the computer. The other kids couldn't understand why I would "put all the work" into typing it up and making it look neat when I could do it "much faster" by hand on looseleaf. I never saw it that way--to me, using the computer was faster and easier. Oh how times have changed.
Being a programmer can be frustrating at times, but it's rewarding in its own right. A painter expresses himself through canvas, a writer through words, a programmer through his code. You have an incredible power to create and control when you're a programmer. I joke with coder buddies that all programmers have some degree of a God Complex: it is our utmost desire to make this machine bend to our will.
Wow! You’re O.G. (Original Geek or Original God-Complex… take your pick.)
As the talented and nerdy singer/songwriter Marian Call says, "I'll still be a geek after nobody thinks it's chic" Or to quote Weird Al: "Look at me I'm white and nerdy."
What kind of kid were you? Nerd? Jock? Student? Musician?
Not surprisingly, I was a nerd and a student. I started off as a pretty athletic kid (what kid doesn't run around a lot?) and really loved baseball. I probably even dreamed of being a Pro Baseball Player some day. But I was a small, scrawny lad, and so I never got too heavily into playing sports, becoming pretty bookish by middle-school. But I was, at least, a social nerd, and somewhat outgoing, going so far as to appear in a supporting role in our high school's senior musical. I dabbled a bit in music, learning some basic piano. In college I wanted to form my own hip hop group. I was nerdcore before it had a name.
Have you made peace with all of the swirlies you received as a child?
For the most part. Geeks rule the world. It is now we who administer the swirlies. Digitally. With our brains.
Has anyone ever seen you without your mask?
Yes, but there's just another mask behind the mask. (They were buy one get one free).
What question did you think I’d ask that I never got around asking you? What question do you want to ask me?
In terms of questions that you never got around to asking: "You used to blog regularly but you now seem to rarely update. Do you miss it? Is this the end of WITFITS?" I definitely miss writing regularly, it was a wonderful creative outlet. I had a great deal of fun relating amusing stories or odd things I had come across, and reveled in the occasional short story or fiction post. I miss the community of readers, however small, I managed to build around the site. There were a few of you out there who were dedicated commenters and I thank you for that--the comments were what made it all worthwhile. As for the end of WITFITS? I don't know. It feels like I once had mountains of free time during which I could while away hours crafting the perfect post, but now my attention is drawn in a dozen different directions. I will probably always have a tiny voice on the Internet, it may simply manifest itself in different ways at different times (blog, Twitter, direct brain interface, ...)
It’s interesting that you’re referring to blogging in the past tense.
A question for you: "Why did blogging appeal to you and what role has it served in your life?" And a selfish one, "Do you remember how in the hell you ever stumbled across my humble ramblings?"
I started blogging because I like writing. It’s given me a method of improving my technique and refining my style. Blogging has given me a way to tell myself that, to some extent, I AM a creative writer, without having to deal with all of the rejection that comes with being published in print. It’s also expanded my circle of friends somewhat. I’m a computer geek, but I’m also very firmly grounded in the physical world. While it’s difficult for me to say that someone I’ve never met is a friend, there are a few cases where this has happened. As for how I came across WITFITS, I discovered Paulius, Sunny and you within a few days of one another. I think that I ran into Sunny with the “Next Blog” button, she recommended Paulius, and he recommended you, but my exact sequence may be off.
If there was one blog you could recommend to my readers, what would it be?
Geeze, put me on the spot. Failblog.org is my current guilty pleasure, in spite of the Internet's overuse of the term "fail" and the fact that I think many of them are in fact "wins". I've also just recently discovered finslippy.com, which makes me question why I even bother to put words on paper when clearly there are others out there way more talented than me.
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Pistachio.
Monday, August 24, 2009
(Insert Item Here) Improvement
It's the season of maintenance and improvement...
For the last two weeks or so, I've been tinting the windows on my house. This is in an effort to increase the energy efficiency (the stuff I'm buying allegedly reflects heat in the summer and retains heat in the winter), reduce glare, and increase privacy. It's been kind of a long project, partially because I'm rather particular with the results, partially because it's difficult to do the job alone, and a bit because I'm doing one or two windows as time allows. I'm happy with the windows I've finished so far, but haven't completed the main windows in the living room, which is really where I want the glare reduction. I figure that if I'm going to make a mistake, that I don't want it to be on these windows.
I'm also painting my windowsills. The old paint is flaking off pretty badly. This is another slow job... mainly because I'm being anal about scraping the old paint, but again, I'm stretched a bit thin. I realized yesterday that there's no way I'll get the painting done before winter. But I'm going to try anyway.
I got a new roof put on as well. Today I'm supposed to get new soffits and fascia, and tomorrow, new gutters. When the guys tore off the old shingles, they said that it was a difficult tear-off because my roof was twice as thick as a normal roof. For some odd reason, I took that as a compliment.
Greg and I got his jeep running again yesterday too. We put a new fuel sending unit into the gas tank... and the gas gauge still doesn't work. But that's okay... the main reason for dropping the tank was to get the crap out of it. After getting the tank remounted, we picked up my younger daughter for some off-road fun. I really love that Jeep. Too bad I can't afford it. On second thought, it's probably a good thing that I can't afford it. I think I'd get into a lot of trouble with it.
For the last two weeks or so, I've been tinting the windows on my house. This is in an effort to increase the energy efficiency (the stuff I'm buying allegedly reflects heat in the summer and retains heat in the winter), reduce glare, and increase privacy. It's been kind of a long project, partially because I'm rather particular with the results, partially because it's difficult to do the job alone, and a bit because I'm doing one or two windows as time allows. I'm happy with the windows I've finished so far, but haven't completed the main windows in the living room, which is really where I want the glare reduction. I figure that if I'm going to make a mistake, that I don't want it to be on these windows.
I'm also painting my windowsills. The old paint is flaking off pretty badly. This is another slow job... mainly because I'm being anal about scraping the old paint, but again, I'm stretched a bit thin. I realized yesterday that there's no way I'll get the painting done before winter. But I'm going to try anyway.
I got a new roof put on as well. Today I'm supposed to get new soffits and fascia, and tomorrow, new gutters. When the guys tore off the old shingles, they said that it was a difficult tear-off because my roof was twice as thick as a normal roof. For some odd reason, I took that as a compliment.
Greg and I got his jeep running again yesterday too. We put a new fuel sending unit into the gas tank... and the gas gauge still doesn't work. But that's okay... the main reason for dropping the tank was to get the crap out of it. After getting the tank remounted, we picked up my younger daughter for some off-road fun. I really love that Jeep. Too bad I can't afford it. On second thought, it's probably a good thing that I can't afford it. I think I'd get into a lot of trouble with it.
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