Wikipedia is my downfall. My interest in learning is my downfall. Case in point: I started to read the latest John Sandford murder mystery a few days ago. Usually his stories are based in and around the Twin Cities since that is where he’s from. This book, though, follows his protagonist to Washington, D.C. I get distracted by something the author mentions regarding D.C., and there I go, down the … [Read more...]
NASA probe lands on Mars – Conspiracy theory???
November 26, 2018 By
I live in a cocoon, my own little cocoon. Naively, I’ve lived in this cocoon thinking most people think like I do, that most people believe in Science with a Capital S. That most people do not believe the Conspiracy Theorists. The last 2-3 years have proven me vastly wrong in my view of the intelligence of people in these United States. [this is NOT a post about model railroading, nor is it about … [Read more...]
Don’t you hate this when it happens?
November 17, 2018 By
Get home, unload the backpack/briefcase of some personal papers and iPad, and then notice no work laptop. Ninety nine percent sure it’s still on my desk at work, but that nagging one percent says, it fell out of the backpack between the office to the bus, or getting off the bus. I would expect someone would be chasing me down, yelling about a busted laptop on the bus floor or sidewalk concrete, … [Read more...]
Listening to some good music while working on the hobby
November 17, 2018 By
Been working at the project table for last couple of hours, listening to Pandora, on my “Scott Bradlee and Post Modern Jukebox” station. As you already probably know (but in case you didn’t), a Pandora station like this isn’t “all” music by that particular artist - a “station” just plays music of a similar genre, etc. So far, they not yet played a tune I didn’t like - just love this kind of music … [Read more...]
Photos by a professional of California’s fires
November 11, 2018 By
If you want to see some pictures and video of what’s happening in California, search for “Peter DaSilva” on FB. He’s a professional photog, and while the subject is devastating, his pictures are, well, words escape me since you can’t call a photo of destruction “amazing”, or “beautiful” - not sure what word would be appropriate here. … [Read more...]
Releasing new software once again at zero dark thirty
November 11, 2018 By
Up at 4:45 am to do a software application release/install, with a colleague. Fortunately, this can be accomplished at home. install went fine without any issues. Our testers/validators are scheduled to start testing at 7. Will have to wait until 8 for them to finish with that before (maybe) heading back to bed for a few hours. My body/head does not like getting up this early. I remember doing … [Read more...]
Model railroading kit building and ‘stash’ backlog
October 13, 2018 By
Post number two this morning due to insomnia/tinnitus. ==== Here’s a crafter’s dilemma, as a crafter gets older, toward retirement age. I’m going to make this a bit easier to understand by reducing the actual quantities. Let’s say, you have enough crafting “projects” (yarn, quilting material/projects, wood in workshop, or whatever) to last you for the next three to four years (or longer), at … [Read more...]
Half Price Books – sale
October 6, 2018 By
So, after leaving the state fair grounds this afternoon, I said to myself, “Self: we have a huge opportunity and if we do not take it, we’ll most likely regret it.” So, that’s how I ended up at Cosettas this afternoon, getting myself some take-out, after leaving the “Half Price Books” book sale. Since I’m not up in the downtown Saint Paul area as often as I was a few yrs ago when I was taking … [Read more...]
Random thoughts, state fair booksale, ServiceNow
October 6, 2018 By
Facebook asks, “What’s on your mind”, at 5:30am this morning? Insomnia - maybe. Acid reflux - nope, not this “morning”. Tinnitus - definitely a yep. Take your pick. My pal Rick went to the State Fair Grounds yesterday for “Half Price Books” book sale. All books were $2 or less. He picked up twelve books for $20. Guess I’m going to get my butt over there this morning and see if I can pick up a … [Read more...]
Going to see Holst’s Planets – NOT!
September 29, 2018 By
Had a pretty tough decision to make this past week. Couldn’t decide, so no decision was made. The quandary was, which night should I go see MN Orchestra, playing Holst’s Planets, Fri evening or Saturday evening? Didn’t want to “stay” at the office for 2-3 hours waiting until the 8pm performance, so after I left the office for home yesterday afternoon, I chose to let the decision default to … [Read more...]
Bob Woodward’s latest book
September 12, 2018 By
Apparently I didn’t order Bob Woodward’s latest book early enough. Ordered it via Amazon on Saturday, expecting it would be delivered on Tues (the day it was due to be released) or Wed. Got an email from them yesterday, saying it would be delivered sometime between sept 25, and Oct 9th. I hear they printed an unprecedented million copies due to the demand. Very unlike Amazon to give such a wide … [Read more...]
Not shooting pics of Lailah
August 7, 2018 By
Let it be known that GranPaBrian spent a short period of time with the little girl on Friday evening, AND then all afternoon on Saturday, AND did not take out his cell phone to take any pics of her. He also didn’t bring a camera with him either. Enjoying the life of Lailah without a camera in my hands is something totally foreign to me - what a concept. What.is.the.world.coming.to? [in case you … [Read more...]
Haircuts and selfies
August 7, 2018 By
The great thing about “new hair cut” selfies, you can always “forget” to take a “before” pic of how bad your hair looked before the new cut. 😱🙄😉🤓 … [Read more...]
Good day at work – probably was coding a new enhancement
July 31, 2018 By
Gotta be quick, we’re about to pull into the (Beautiful Downtown) AV transit station. Had a great day today work-wise. Yesterday wasn’t so bad either. In fact, had a great week last week as well. Most of the time work is just ordinary, but there are some days when it’s really fun and not the usual boring, or not challenging enough routine. Hope everyone out there had a good day too. BigB. 😉🤓 … [Read more...]
IOS 12 upgrade on the iPad
July 30, 2018 By
Upgraded the iPad to IOS 12.0 BETA yesterday (?) - “everything” is crashing (safari mostly, but sometimes FB, Photos, and a couple of other apps, like my banking app, etc.) Huh - now did I follow their strongly suggested recommendation of backing up the iPad first before upgrading? Who me? Now why would I want to do that? Apple never sends out buggy upgrades (in my usual experience). [updated: … [Read more...]
Loring Park Art Festival – part 2
July 29, 2018 By
As posted earlier today, we went to the Loring Park Art Festival yesterday. These are the two photographs I picked up. The photograph of Lake Calhoun looking toward the MPLS downtown skyline is truly awesome, and was the first one that caught my eye by this particular photographer. Its 10x14, with a 3” mat surrounding it, meaning I’m going to have to get a 16x20 frame for it. I know exactly where … [Read more...]
Loring Park Art Festival – part 1
July 29, 2018 By
Forgot to “check in” yesterday. Had a really nice day, looking at all the creative art that people produce. I came across a photographer who is local to the twin cities so he had a lot of downtown MPLS photos, and I had chosen one photograph print to buy (either 11x17 or maybe 16x20), unframed since the framed version was three times the cost of the unframed. As I was paying for it, another … [Read more...]
Fans
July 27, 2018 By
It’s rare that I smile a huge smile when skimming short videos but this one I just love. … [Read more...]
“A Simple Favor”
July 26, 2018 By
I’m 2/3s into this new murder mystery book (supposedly like “gone girl”, or “girl on the train”). I’ve seen Gone Girl, and read the book, and enjoyed both. Got home tonight after reading this new murder mystery on the bus, and decided I needed to watch “girl on the train”. O.m.g., I’m half way into it, and it is excruciating slow. Emily Blount’s character looks so out of it. The new murder … [Read more...]
