365 - 2 - 30

Santa Clause - An Engineer's Perspective.

2009-12-21T14:27:00.000-05:00

Sorry kids, but you shouldn't read this. And, for any "adults" that believes, I wouldn't recommend it either.

Santa Claus: An Engineer's Perspective

I. There are approximately two billion children (persons under 18) in the world. However, since Santa does not visit children of Muslim, Hindu, Jewish or Buddhist religions, this reduces the workload for Christmas night to 15% of the total, or 378 million (according to the Population Reference Bureau).

At an average (census) rate of 3.5 children per household, which comes to 108 million homes, presuming that there is at least one good child in each.

II. Santa has about 31 hours of Christmas to work with, thanks to the different time zones and the rotation of the earth, assuming he travels east to west (which seems logical). This works out to 967.7 visits per second. This is to say that for each Christian household with a good child, Santa has around 1/1000th of a second to park the sleigh, hop out, jump down the chimney, fill the stockings, distribute the remaining presents under the tree, eat whatever snacks have been left for him, get back up the chimney, jump into the sleigh and get on to the next house.

Assuming that each of these 108 million stops is evenly distributed around the earth (which, of course, we know to be false, but will accept for the purposes of our calculations), we are now talking about 0.78 miles per household; a total trip of 75.5 million miles, not counting bathroom stops or breaks. This means Santa's sleigh is moving at 650 miles per second --- 3,000 times the speed of sound. For purposes of comparison, the fastest man-made vehicle, the Ulysses space probe, moves at a poky 27.4 miles per second, and a conventional reindeer can run (at best) 15 miles per hour.

III. The payload of the sleigh adds another interesting element. Assuming that each child gets nothing more than a medium sized Lego set (two pounds), the sleigh is carrying over 500 thousand tons, not counting Santa himself. On land, a conventional reindeer can pull no more than 300 pounds. Even granting that the "flying" reindeer could pull ten times the normal amount, the job can't be done with eight or even nine of them--- Santa would need 360,000 of them. This increases the payload, not counting the weight of the sleigh, another 54,000 tons, or roughly seven times the weight of the Queen Elizabeth (the ship, not the monarch).

IV. 600,000 tons traveling at 650 miles per second creates enormous air resistance --- this would heat up the reindeer in the same fashion as a spacecraft re-entering the earth's atmosphere. The lead pair of reindeer would absorb 14.3 quintillion joules of energy per second each. In short, they would burst into flames almost instantaneously, exposing the reindeer behind them and creating deafening sonic booms in their wake.

The entire reindeer team would be vaporized within 4.26 thousandths of a second, or right about the time Santa reached the fifth house on his trip.

Not that it matters, however, since Santa, as a result of accelerating from a dead stop to 650 m.p.s. in .001 seconds, would be subjected to centrifugal forces of 17,500 g's. A 250 pound Santa (which seems ludicrously slim) would be pinned to the back of the sleigh by 4,315,015 pounds of force, instantly crushing his bones and organs and reducing him to a quivering blob of pink goo.

Therefore, if Santa did exist, he's dead now.

It's official.

2009-09-01T17:32:00.000-04:00

I made it to 30. Hard to believe to some I'm sure.

30 is looming!

2009-08-13T21:39:00.003-04:00

So, my year is almost up. I'll admit, I couldn't commit. It's not that I don't have a lot to write about - it's more to do with whether I want to let the entire world to know. Sure, I could have written about my interests... the few that I do have. But, I'm not nearly as gifted as others in those interests so why humiliate myself like that? No thanks. I have enough of that in the real world!

A lot has happened over the course of a year though. I've got a different job, we bought a car, I became a better photographer (some my argue that), and a lot of my friends all had children. Okay, that last one I can't claim to be part of "my" year, but it's certainly part of my life.

All in all, I'd say it's been a great year and I couldn't ask for anything more!

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MS Society - Leadership Class

2009-08-10T13:25:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends and Family,

I have been selected by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to become a member of the Lancaster MS Leadership Class of 2009, a group of Central Pennsylvania professionals who have made an outstanding contribution to the business, civic and cultural betterment of our community. With this honor, I have accepted the responsibility of raising money to support the programs of the Central PA Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I have a very ambitious personal goal of $2,500 that I want to raise for the MS cause. Please help by making a donation - large or small - to fight MS.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is the only national voluntary health agency in the United States supporting worldwide research to find the cause of, a cure for, and the means to prevent multiple sclerosis. The Society invests more money in MS research than any other private funder in the world. This investment is paying off as we now have six treatments to help slow the course of this unpredictable disease. Locally the Central PA chapter provides vital programs and services to over 5,700 persons living with the challenges of MS and their families.

Whatever you can give will help! Together we can make a world of difference. Thank-you in advance for your contribution!

Sincerely,
Rob Peterson

Click here to get to my personal page and make a secure, online donation.

To send a donation: Make all checks payable to: National MS Society Mail to:

Rob Peterson

3840 Hempland Rd

American Home Bank

Mountville, PA 17554-1500

MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We are a collective of passionate individuals, moving together to create a world free of MS. JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society at www.nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-344-4867.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society | 733 Third Avenue | New York, NY | 10017

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Just in: Free shipping all summer!

2009-07-08T11:20:00.001-04:00

Just in: Free shipping all summer!

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Nice tile

2009-07-02T19:57:00.000-04:00

So, this girl made a tile for the playground: What was she thinking? I love goats??

Beautiful evening!

2009-07-02T19:29:00.000-04:00

Lebanon's Hariri begins tough job to form government

2009-06-29T19:45:00.000-04:00

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri began parliamentary consultations on Monday aiming to form a unity government with rivals including the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

http://mobile.reuters.com/mobile/m/FullArticle/CWOR/nworldNews_uUSTRE55S2A920090629?src=RSS-WOR

GOOD LUCK! I really don't see that going very well, unfortunately. A quarter century of state funded terrorists are probably not going to sit down and talk peace. If they do, it'll be a scam!

43 Folders Series: Inbox Zero | 43 Folders

2009-06-23T18:16:00.001-04:00

Quite an interesting concept going here. I would recommend most everyone try it, follow it or modify it to fit your work flow. http://www.43folders.com/izero

Good stuff. The only probably is that when using auto-filters is that my email push to my BlackBerry. If the filter moves it out of the inbox, it never reaches the BB. Of course, I could do a 'duplicate' transfer or 'copy' vs the actual 'move' of the item, but them I'm thinking my IT manager might start hounding me on the size of my exchange data. But, if most items are moved automatically, I could just delete out my Inbox. But then how would I remember which has been moved and hasn't been moved and where the item gets auto-filtered to... So many variables. :). Such is life.

43 Folders Series: Inbox Zero | 43 Folders

2009-06-23T17:58:00.001-04:00

Quite an interesting concept going here. I would recommend most everyone try it, follow it or modify it to fit your work flow. http://www.43folders.com/izero

6 Intriguingly Shaped Communities As Seen On Google Maps

2009-06-18T09:54:00.000-04:00

http://www.seoco.co.uk/blog/2009/06/12/intriguingly-shaped-communities-google-maps/

Pretty neat stuff!

Pay phones

2009-06-13T17:24:00.000-04:00

Yes! They still have pay phones!!??

Walking through the Bronx and saw this pay phone. And, it actually has a dial-tone.

Who knew in the age of cell phones that they still have those turned on.

Obadiah Parker - Hey, ya - cover.

2009-06-03T08:02:00.001-04:00

Great acoustic cover of Black Eyed Peas "Hey ya". ...
http://www.obadiahparker.com

My hotel room view

2009-06-01T17:42:00.000-04:00

In NC

2009-05-24T22:14:00.001-04:00

In NC for Memorial Day weekend. I don't get down too often to visit my parents, so it's great to see them. As it so happens, my sister and brother-in-law live nearby as well. There was some great news: my sister is pregnant! And, their 1st anniversary is only 2 weeks away! Crazy stuff. We're extremely happy for them and they will both make great parents.

Much running around. Many itineraries to follow :)

Post pics at a later date once I get back and process them. There are also several trips to Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve that I have yet to get online. I will try to do so while I'm traveling over the next few weeks. Not out hitting the clubs... hitting the keys :)

Peace out.

Housing construction, permits hit record lows - Yahoo! Finance

2009-05-19T09:25:00.000-04:00

Housing construction, permits hit record lows - Yahoo! Finance

So the economy is trying to get up and running... but it just can't seem to get going. Believe it or not, the housing industry is a HUGE factor in the economy - jobs and products for new homes, renovations, and smaller projects contribute trillions of dollars every year.

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Ethics & Photography - T.O.P. Post

2009-05-16T11:07:00.001-04:00

I thought you might like to see this post from The Online Photographer: http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2009/05/splat-an-ethical-conundrum.html

TSA requirements - Seriously??

2009-05-15T11:42:00.000-04:00

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has instituted new rules and procedures that require airlines to present the TSA with certain specific identity information for all passengers. The TSA has branded these new requirements TSA SECURE FLIGHT which goes into effect on 15MAY. The purpose of this program is for the US government to pre-screen airline passengers against its No-Fly list 72 hours prior to boarding.

On 15MAY, airlines will be required to provide the full name of each passenger to the TSA. The traveler’s name, as it appears on the reservation, must match the ID being presented at check-in EXACTLY. If the ID contains a middle initial or name, the reservation must also reflect such. This only applies to reservations made on or after 15MAY. As the Frequent Flyer Number must also match the reservation name to get flight credit, you may need to contact the airline and have your account name changed to match the ID you will be using.

On 15AUG, Airlines will be required to provide the TSA with the traveler Date of Birth and Gender for all domestic flights. We would like to start collecting this information as soon as possible so that there will be no rush when this rule goes into effect. Please be advised that you may decline to give me this information, but such a declination will cause check-in delays, additional airport screening by the TSA and possible denied boarding.

On 31OCT, Airlines will be required to provide the TSA with your Date of Birth and Gender for all international flights entering or leaving the US. Please be advised that you may decline to give me this information, but again such a declination will cause check-in delays, additional airport screening by the TSA and possible denied boarding.

As your travel management company, we are required to provide this data in a specified format to the airline and they, in turn, provide it to the TSA.

As you are surely aware when it comes to matters involving the TSA we have no ability to impact the processes they adopt nor how they choose to execute them at the airport on the day of your departure. However, in an effort to avoid unnecessary delays at check-in, we/I would like to begin entering this information into your traveler profile in advance of these deadlines and would appreciate you clicking on this link to provide me with the necessary information. If you have this information for more than one person, please click on the link again for each new traveler.

In addition, I strongly suggest you review your frequent flyer memberships and ensure the name matches your form of ID EXACTLY. This will enable you to keep receiving your miles without having to request them after the fact.

If you have questions about the TSA Secure Flight Program, please click on the following link to connect directly to the TSA website - http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm

Shaun N Balani, CTC

President

1044 New Holland Ave.

Lancaster, PA 17601

(717) 299 6600 Ext. 555

www.trvltime.com

GMAC one the free-handout gravy train...

2009-05-09T09:55:00.001-04:00

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/business/08gmac.xml

Coburn: "It makes me want to vomit."

2009-05-04T19:41:00.000-04:00

Coburn: "It makes me want to vomit."
If that isn't an intro to a good post, I don't know what is!!

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2009-04-29T07:51:00.000-04:00

I haven't had much to blog lately. I don't know why really. Do you ever get so busy and so wrapped up into things that you forget about other things? I think this has been one of those 'other things' that I forget about. I have been 'twittering' as you see from the column on the right; so I do update but in a much more compact manner. :)

This week is pretty busy with people coming into town for work for meetings. Then, next week, I have to travel for a few days. Nothing too far, but you still have to get in the car and drive longer than your normal 15 minute commute to work!

BIG NEWS! My good friend Randy and his wife Kate had a little baby girl, Norah Kate this past week. I've known Randy since 1989. Hard to believe that the kid that I played GI Joes & caught crawfish in the creek by our house with is now a father, a dad. He'll be a great one, I'm sure of it. I think we both knew that he would be having kids some day... still crazy though that it's now happened. And, another little nugget: they'll be moving to Phile soon so they'll be a lot closer to us! Pretty sweet. I was pulling for the actual Lancaster area for them to move to, but I guess 1.5 hours is better than 3.5 hours for visit!!!

Best be off... have a good one!

My website here.

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thinking out loud...: Suffering and the Church...

2009-04-24T07:27:00.001-04:00

This blog is from a high school friend's husband. I just found out about it today, and I really like it. So, check out Chris Bennett's blog and think about it. Today's post is especially mind-engaging.

http://thinkoutloud-chris.blogspot.com/2009/04/suffering-and-church.html

Enjoy!

Elimination, Evolution, Reinvention, Revolution, Synthesis, Starting Over, New Directions - Seven Ways To Improve Your Photographic Vision « Photofocus

2009-04-22T21:33:00.001-04:00

http://photofocus.com/2009/04/22/elimination-evolution-reinvention-revolution-synthesis-starting-over-new-directions-seven-ways-to-improve-your-photographic-vision/

Freddie Mac CFO found dead.

2009-04-22T15:33:00.002-04:00

Laptop

2009-04-18T16:45:00.002-04:00

New laptop... It's intended use is for work, but who knows how much that will happen :) Probably more than I'll admit... considering today it's happened for a couple of hours while outside on the patio. It's great having wireless now in the house. The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite A355-S6940. I'm pleased so far, but it's only been about 4 days with it. The only downside is that it has Vista. I've been contemplating an install of XP since it has two drives then just having a dual-boot. But, either by Toshiba design or Windows mandate, there are shared files for the operation of Vista on both drives. So, essentially, if I wanted to keep both installations, I would need to install Vista on the one drive completely, then install XP on the seperate drive. I'm not convinced to tackle that right now. Vista has been running fine in both personal applications, and for work applications. We'll see as it gets loaded up...

The wireless router that I got was the D-Link Xtreme N™ Gigabit DIR-655. After one day, no problems. Set-up took 7 minutes and 38 seconds. No joke, I timed it. There were some complaints about set-up time. I really don't see how that is remotely possible if you actually follow the set-up instructions.

So, now I can lounge on the patio in the shade while the wife hangs out in the sun :)

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Somali pirates hijack 4 ships, take 60 hostages

2009-04-14T16:37:00.000-04:00

CRAZY!

Somali pirates hijack 4 ships, take 60 hostages

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Nikon Hits the Sweet Spot With New D5000

2009-04-14T09:46:00.000-04:00

This might be a good entry camera for anyone thinking about moving up from their P&S or into digital from film (or in addition to?). Nikon Hits the Sweet Spot With New D5000

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Wells Fargo Home Mortgage -- Dean Loux -- Home Mortgage

2009-04-14T09:01:00.000-04:00

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage -- Dean Loux -- Home Mortgage 4.25% - 30 year fixed. Awesome.

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I'm still on my soapbox...

2009-04-08T13:51:00.000-04:00

I'm still on my Green soapbox ... so if you're still listening, here's a nice little article about Habitat for Humanity in Lakeland, FL doing their part. Home Energy Magazine Article

Yay for Habitat! (which in itself is a great organization!!)

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"Going Green"

2009-04-08T08:25:00.000-04:00

Going "Green" is not a new-age fad that most people think it is. In fact, there has been a sub-culture of "green" since the 60's, if not earlier. Unfortunately, in the consume-all/dispose-all society (especially the US!), it hasn't gotten much attention. So, thanks to the breakdown of an eco-system that has been able to keep up with pollutants, landscape changes, and a growing strain of the human population, it's only taken the fact that we have begun to kill our planet for the sub-culture to take hold on the everyday. Kudos for us to at least recognize it!

Becoming a better steward of our planet is a task that we are required to do by God. So, I think it shouldn't be taken lightly. Here's a great article about how you can do some things easily (and economically!) to help out. The article is geared towards a business market, but you can easily adapt it to your own personal usage. Enjoy Ways to Go Green - cheaply!

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In DC

2009-04-01T22:30:00.000-04:00

In DC

Look good in pictures...

2009-03-30T16:30:00.000-04:00

Look Good in Pictures: brought to you by Nikon and some guy in NYC Times Square. I think he's a fashion guy on t.v. ... I can't remember. Good stuff, but I find his voice a little annoying.

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Nick Turpin

2009-03-27T16:08:00.000-04:00

I've been following this photographer (not literally) for about 9 months now. I love the way he creates the lighting on the street. Greate stuff. Watch the video and then check out his website.

Nick Turpin street portraits for Menshealth from Nick Turpin on Vimeo

You should also check out The Strobist website as well for some great tips for all things off-camera lighting.

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Bank on Yourself

2009-03-27T12:10:00.000-04:00

Bank on Yourself

Has anyone ever heard of this before? If so, let me know. It seems out there, but at the same time, it doesn't seem like it wouldn't work either. Another link is to the actual site/company.

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Bottom Line Living | GiANT Perspectives

2009-03-27T12:01:00.000-04:00

Bottom Line Living | GiANT Perspectives

This is a great article regarding taking personal stock in what you're doing. Whether you agree with the formula or the intended result is irrelevant. It's just a good thing to do!

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a Cartoon That Makes it Easy to Understand the Credit Crisis

2009-03-26T13:30:00.000-04:00

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Media Convert - free and on line - convert and split sound, ringtones, images, docs -

2009-03-20T13:07:00.000-04:00

Media Convert - free and on line - convert and split sound, ringtones, images, docs -

I was searching online for a way to convert an AVI file to a SWF file for some stuff at work ... I found this site. It takes a little time, but it is better than having to download and pay for a program. Not to mention, I don't have admin rights at work, so I wouldn't even be able to do an install! This fits perfectly for what I'm wanting to do. Only downside is that it has a 150MB limit for conversion. But, I think anything larger than that, you don't want to wait around on anyways.
Nice little site. And free.

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NCAA® MARCH MADNESS® IS HERE!!!

2009-03-19T14:04:00.001-04:00

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Oh yeah...

2009-03-17T13:08:00.000-04:00

... I forgot...

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

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www.rbpeterson2.com

2009-03-17T13:05:00.000-04:00

It's officially up and running... mind you, there will be updates and changes. But, I finally got up something on my domain. Let me know what you think.

http://www.rbpeterson2.com

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National Geographic - M-K Wildlife area

2009-03-17T10:13:00.000-04:00

Interactive - National Geographic Magazine

I think this would be awesome to go to... anyone want to pay for my flight?? There's also a story from N.G. magazine that goes with it here. Definitely worth a read.

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Blue Legacy: A program by Alexandra Cousteau, Social Environmental Advocate

2009-03-16T13:43:00.000-04:00

Blue Legacy, Alexandra Cousteau, Social Environmental Advocate, telling the story of our water planet to the world.

Most everyone knows the name Cousteau; primarily her grandfather, Jacques, or her father Philippe. Alexandra is starting to make her own waves. Click the link above for more information about the flash below.

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BUSY!

2009-03-16T11:25:00.000-04:00

Busy. Busy.

The past few weeks I have been quite busy. So, I haven't written much here. Oddly enough, I'm past the half-way mark to my 30th. Only 168 days left.

Had a great weekend with friends... S.I. came to visit from Ohio and then we trekked down to Chevy Chase, MD to visit some other friends. A., S.I. and our hostess (A.W.) had an impromptu baby shower for another friend. I was able to get some good pictures of everyone, especially the A.W.'s little girl. Good stuff. I'll be posting some of those pictures on the Flickr page probably later today/tonight.

St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow, but we're not having our party until this weekend, so the annual St. Patty's Day beard will be having a longer stay than what A. would like it to be :)

Don't forget to wear your green tomorrow!

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Our new car - the Honda CR-V EX

2009-03-03T11:57:00.000-05:00

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Why is it bad the U.S. Gov't keeps bailing out banks?

2009-03-03T11:44:00.000-05:00

Why is bad? Here's a good video to tell you:

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Great Photographs

2009-02-27T14:33:00.000-05:00

Some day, hopefully I can capture images such as these...

International Photography Contest 2008 - Desktop Wallpaper - National Geographic Magazine

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Birding on Sunday

2009-02-26T11:02:00.000-05:00

So this weekend should be pretty fun... I'm going to a wildlife preserve that is supposed to have tens of thousands of trumpeter swans and snow geese. I will hopefully be able to capture some good images to share. The preserve is called Middle Creek Wildlife. Additional information can be found on the park website and the PA Birding website.

Cross your fingers for me! For good images and no frostbite! It's supposed to be a high of 35 on Sunday, 50% chance of either ice, snow or rain and any combination of those three... and we're meeting at the lake at 6 a.m., pre-sunrise. Who likes a challenge!?

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NASA's ER2

2009-02-25T13:23:00.000-05:00

I came across this today and thought it was pretty cool. Click the link below for more information on what the ER2 can do.

NASA - NASA Dryden Fact Sheets - ER-2

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Victor's Birthday

2009-02-24T08:05:00.000-05:00

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How do stock traders feel about the stimulus plan?

2009-02-19T13:41:00.000-05:00

CNBC.com tells us what the stock traders on the floor think.

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Back Surgery anyone?

2009-02-19T08:59:00.000-05:00

If you are interested in things medical, thinking of getting surgery (in particular, a back operation), or if you just like to watch random things to learn, then this video webcast is for you. It's a little long, but quite informative. The one nice thing is that if you are squirmish about blood, this operation is really clean. Check it out at PinnacleHealth. I'm quite impressed with them even doing something like this to share with the public.

Enjoy!

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If this doesn't sum it all up...

2009-02-18T10:37:00.000-05:00

If this MSNBC.com story doesn't sum up what is going on in California with all of the mortgage mess, I don't know what will. D-Day vet's tale parallels mortgage meltdown

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Good Real Estate articles

2009-02-18T09:47:00.000-05:00

I came across a Real Estate and Housing Market blogger today through a website called 'seeking alpha'. Not exactly sure what the intent on the naming of the site is, but that's not important. The web address for this particular blogger/journalist is: http://seekingalpha.com/author/judy-weil/articles.

Enjoy!

Monday Monday

2009-02-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

You know it's going to be a pretty good day at work when:
A) A great song comes on the radio on your way there?
B) You arrive at work and someone's left a small gift at your desk? Or
C) You are locked out of your computer because it doesn't recognize your password - which is correct because you can send and receive email from your BB?
If you guessed (C), you're right! The other two happened as well, but since I can't do anything, (C) took the prize.
The great song was "Refugee" from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, all the way from 1979 (which happens to be a great year as well...)
The small gift was a cookie. Cookies are awesome. If you could receive 75% of your daily recommended nutrition in cookie form... Just imagine how awesome that would be. Problem is, I think a lot of Americans already think that that is true. NEWFLASH: IT'S NOT!
Snap back to reality for a second here; Obama's got the Economic Recovery & Revitalization bill waiting on his desk. There are quite a few good ideas in there and there are quite a few bad ones. But, that's how a democracy works: you lump the good with the bad because you have to make concessions to other people so we all get along and play nice. Eventually, the bad ideas are weeded out after blowing through millions (or b-b-billions!) Of dollars to find that they don't work. I believe there is an office in Congress that is supposed to keep track of these things, but you never here much from that office. I think if they had an "Idiot! I told you it wouldn't work!" officer, we'd hear more from them. Seriously, every time some project or initiative that doesn't pan out is realized, that officer should send a memo to any member of the Congress that supported it and then post the failure where we all know where to find it. Then, if anyone gets the idea to try it again or some idea like it, we can point them to the past and let them know the idea is horrible.
Okay, I'm done on that... I'll see if someone from the tech dept is in so I can get on my PC...
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Did you lose your cell phone service?

2009-02-12T08:16:00.000-05:00

If you suddenly lost your cell phone service, this may be why: Russian, U.S. satellites collide in space. The article doesn't give any details to what the function of the U.S. satellite was other than it was Motorola "Iridium global mobile communications system" satellite. Which means absolutely nothing to most people. Luckily, there's Wikipedia! You can read more about "Iridium" (not the element) here.

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That's a load of cash...

2009-02-11T11:08:00.000-05:00

If you're wondering where all the money is supposed to be going for the "stimulus" package that is in every newscast headline... there's a great graphic found here:

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Winding Roads - Life's Adventures

2009-02-11T07:43:00.000-05:00

There is a spot along a back road that I've always wanted to take a picture of. It's on the way to a park that A. and I go to for hiking. It's not too far away and when the days are longer, we can actually rush up to the park and get a good hour of being outdoors. This past weekend, we didn't need to rush, so I was able to stop by this particular spot and finally capture a few images. As it turned out, I got a biker making his way up the hill. It really doesn't appear to be that steep, but when you get right up on it... I'll just say that the biker was struggling a bit.

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Seeing color in sounds

2009-02-09T11:18:00.000-05:00

Just another interesting read... I can't even imagine having something like this...

Seeing color in sounds has genetic link - CNN.com

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100 meters

2009-02-09T08:05:00.000-05:00

This website (and photographer) have some really great images and concepts. The 100 meters project is an intriguing idea - it's 100 meters of photographs taken over the course of 20 days in one spot of people that really don't know they're being photographed. The idea is that we are taking a lot of information, love, feelings, etc. to the grave if we don't start being open and sharing with those around us...

Check it out.

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Volcano in Alaska - Pending Eruption

2009-02-05T13:35:00.000-05:00

So, I don't think I'm an idiot or living in a cave. Except, I haven't heard about this on any televised news stations... I don't know if that's because it's in Alaska or if it really isn't that big of a deal. I would think a volcano erupting is a big deal. Especially when it involves displacing people.

There are some additional links within this story:Volcano looms over Iditarod dogs. Worth a look over.

Enjoy!

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Bacon Explosion: The BBQ Sausage Recipe of all Recipes

2009-02-04T15:58:00.000-05:00

Three words: Bacon Lover's Delight. Or, Coronary in Waiting... you decide! :)

Bacon Explosion: The BBQ Sausage Recipe of all Recipes

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Groundbreaking Agreement

2009-02-04T15:57:00.000-05:00

There has been a new groundbreaking agreement made between publishers and authors and Google. You can read more about that here. I wouldn't recommend it, unless you're either a lawyer, have tons of time, like hurting your brain, or in general, wickedly bored. Yeah, wickedly. The better side of all of this is you get to read a ton of stuff for free. Who knows for how long. I don't, I didn't read the mumbo-jumbo of the agreement. I'd rather not bog myself down with all the nitty-gritty details of it all. Just enjoy the fruits of someone else's labor. That is what we Americans are know for, is it not?

So, really, check out issues of magazines, periodicals, and books here.

Who knows, you might be able to go ahead and cancel that Men's Health, Wine Enthusiast or Adventure magazine subscription.

Enjoy!

"The Brain Trust"

2009-02-04T13:39:00.000-05:00

I like this comment made by a woman on "The Caucus" blog on NYTimes.com

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/the-white-house-spray/#comment-1074805

Being Tall (although I'm not that tall)

2009-01-30T11:11:00.000-05:00

I saw this and just thought of myself...

Inauguration Viewer

2009-01-28T07:21:00.000-05:00

Check out the Inauguration Viewer:

http://gigapan.org/viewGigapanFullscreen.php?auth=033ef14483ee899496648c2b4b06233c

You can use your mouse wheel to zoom in and out as well as the tool on the left.

Pretty neat.

Refinancing - will it help the U.S.?

2009-01-27T07:07:00.000-05:00

There are several good articles floating around about the current economic times and the ability for folks to refinance or not. I really like this one because it boils it down simplistically but without making it so watered down you don't get anything out of it.

http://features.csmonitor.com/economyrebuild/2009/01/22/new-refinance-boomlet-may-lift-economy-a-bit/

30 Under 40

2009-01-23T15:31:00.000-05:00

So, I got this award today. It's called 30 Under 40. It's sponsored by American Home Bank through the Building Systems Council. It's pretty cool. You can read more about it here. (ps. the photo isn't high quality ... it is my blackberry camera... I dig the twinkle from the flash at the edge of the glass on the award though...)

T-Minus 5 Business Days

2009-01-23T15:28:00.000-05:00

T-Minus 5 Business days. For what? My transition from Loan Officer to Project Manager. I'm quite happy that I'm able to stay at the bank, which will be 5 year anniversary for me in June this year. Time flies! If anyone has some PM nuggets of wisdom to pass along, let me know!

DIY Beauty Dish

2009-01-21T07:47:00.001-05:00

DIY Beauty Dish, originally uploaded by Sportrait.

So, this will be my next project. It's called a "Beauty Dish". I'm not 100% sure where the name came from other than the real manufacturer. But, it does make your subjects look beautiful! :)
It'll be interesting to see if mine works.

Grandma's Obituary

2009-01-07T13:33:00.000-05:00

- Obituary -

Frances Eileen Peterson

Frances Eileen Peterson, 86, formerly of Sandy Lake-Grove City Road, Worth Township, Mercer County, passed away at 5:23 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, in Orchard Manor Nursing Home, Grove City, after a period of failing health.

She was born Sept. 18, 1922, in Worth Township to Floyd F. and Jessie W. Buckley Kilgore.

Mrs. Peterson graduated from the former Sandy Lake High School in 1940 and from Slippery Rock State Teachers College in 1944 with a degree in education. She retired from Lakeview School District as an elementary teacher in 1985.

She was an active member of Sandy Lake Wesleyan Church where she taught Sunday school.

Mrs. Peterson was devoted to her family and her faith throughout her life, and she cherished her sisters and friends.

She married Harry R. Peterson on Sept. 30, 1944, and he preceded her in death Oct. 30, 1973. Mrs. Peterson is survived by one daughter, Harleen Thomas and her husband, Ric, of Sandy Lake; and four sons, Floyd Peterson and his wife, Karen, of Scottsdale, Ariz., Bruce Peterson and his wife, Cheryl, of Greenville, N.C., Scott Peterson and his wife, Shelly, of Sandy Lake, and Jeff Peterson and his wife, Robin, of Apoka, Fla. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and twin sisters Joan Kilgore of Grove City and Mrs. Orville (Jean) Gadsby of Stoneboro.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and four sisters.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Scott A. Black Funeral Home, 99 Franklin St., Stoneboro. Funeral and committal services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Shawn M. Cossin, pastor of Sandy Lake Wesleyan Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Zion Cemetery, Worth Township. Memorial contributions can be made to Sandy Lake Wesleyan Church, P.O. Box 275, Sandy Lake, 16145.

Sad Day.

2009-01-06T09:36:00.001-05:00

Shepardstown Church, originally uploaded by rbpeterson2.

Sad day... today's picture and post - the death of my grandmother, Frances Eileen Peterson (formely of Sandy Lake, PA).

She is now in a better place as the past years have been a struggle for both mind and body for her. Please pray for my dad, and my aunts and uncles as they mourn the loss of their mother.

Internet's down

2009-01-02T11:32:00.000-05:00

So, I came to work today. And I haven't been able to do too much because the internet's down. I know that seems kind of silly, but it's true. Our bank, which used to be American Home Bank, N.A., is now, American Home Bank, a division of First National Bank of Chester County.

With the name change, I'm supposed to go onto my website and print out all of the pages and make notes one what needs to change (logos, text, etc.). Well, the internet's down. I can't. Also, I have a bunch of marketing materials that need to be pulled and reworked since the logo and name change. I can't. I came to work today to do those two things and it's a bust.

What other things can't I do? Well, our loan software utilizes third-party systems that are accessed through... wait for it... the internet. Did I mention the internet at work is down? I can't order credit reports, nor run automated underwriting. Luckily, I'm a eager hardworking lad and I asked for something to do. Now, I'm working on some cost analysis due diligence thing that I can't discuss.

How did we work without the internet??

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

And my Flickr page here.

Christmas is over.

2008-12-29T07:30:00.000-05:00

Christmas is over :( BOO! It went really quick this year, and it really didn't feel like Christmas time. This is Oliver hanging out after everyone has gone. To say the least, it was some trauma for the little guy this past week. First there was a dog in the house who wanted to play (note: cats do not play with dogs), and then a small and energetic boy came. Needless to say, Oliver stayed on our bed high above both for several days.

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.
And my Flickr account here.

Don't stare at this too long...

2008-12-23T07:10:00.001-05:00

LancPhotoMeetup-0041, originally uploaded by miviman.

Check out this photo. It was taken by a member of the Lancaster County Photo group that I'm in. We went to the Lancaster Science Factory for some shots and I'm still trying to figure out where this would have been.

I didn't see a room with a trippy green thing in it...

You can see my photos of here: Photo Rob

Pirates! I've got questions.

2008-12-19T10:19:00.000-05:00

Seriously, who would have thought that being a pirate today would be so lucrative. Granted, there are tons of cyber-pirates out there stealing data from our computers right now, but I'm talking about the kind you find in boats. Do you think they offer a course in colleges for this sort of thing? Who's exactly in charge of determining the course of action against pirates? Do we have anti-piracy laws for these 'sea dogs'?

I'm really taken back by this. There are millions of dollars worth of goods being stolen. What about re-routing these shipments? Yes, I know it will take a lot longer and cost more money. Wouldn't you rather throw millions of dollars to something that is actually working for you not against you? All of these ransoms are becoming inhibitors and encouragement to future pirates. I'm sure it's a difficult task to take on and hi-jack a massive tanker or cargo ship on the high sea.

Sorry for all of the questions. I guess I'm still the 5 year old that always asks 'why?' 5 billion times...

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Great music!

2008-12-17T10:14:00.000-05:00

I was on a Flickr account page of a photographer that I've been following. He does some 'unique' work and I find it inspirational. I'll never be able to do what he does most of the time, but it's good to try new things and learn from others.

Anyways, he did some shooting of a musician/artist and had a link to his website. It's awesome stuff. Thoroughly enjoyable!!

Please go here. The video is pretty cool too (especially the end!).

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Christmas in 13 days!

2008-12-16T10:37:00.000-05:00

Today's post is all about Christmas.

Not so much as to the meaning of Christmas, but about what people do for Christmas. Every year there are some things that we do that are the same. Some things change. For instance, every year, we go get a real tree. This year, a difference is that we'll actually be in our own home to celebrate. Hardly monumental, I know, but it's the little things that create tradition. One tradition that isn't so little with my wife's family is Swedish dinner. It's awesome. Clearly not healthy, but great! Swedish meatballs, pork & barley, meat korv, potato korv, herring... Stuff to help you last through the winter!

So, even if you think something your family does is an idiotic waste of time, join in. Join in because it's what you're going to remember for a very long time.

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Deltec Homes New Model Home

2008-12-11T10:10:00.001-05:00

Deltec Homes New Model Home, originally uploaded by rbpeterson2.

Deltec Homes new model home is now open. It is quite nice. If you are in the Asheville, NC area, I would recommend checking it out. You can see it here.

My new job search is now in full swing. It is amazing how many different job boards and forums are out there for job seekers. How do all of these places stay in business? I guess it doesn't take much money to run a website... ? In any case, I've found a few opportunities that interest me, at least on the surface. You never know until you actually talk to someone about the position. I'm focusing in the Operations / Supply Chain end of things. Getting back to my educational roots, as it were. I think being in Sales definitely has helped me see that what you're selling isn't always that the customer is buying.

I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Wicked Long Time

2008-12-08T07:34:00.000-05:00

So it's been a wicked long time since my last post... which was... Yeah, that long ago.

I've officially let most everyone at my current work know that I'm looking elsewhere. It goes back several years really. In my very first interview with my now boss, I told him that I was not planning on being a sales person for life. I needed to move up in the world and if it worked out, I would move up within the company. As it turns out, not too much upward mobility. Not a huge deal though, there are other pastures out there - I'm not necessarily looking for a greener one, just another one that is green.

Thus the delay in posting. My daily 'struggle', as it were, has been looking for a new career opportunity. Which, on the on set doesn't really sound too time consuming. I was thinking of looking online and in the paper every once and a while, not giving it much time or thought. Kind of a, "If I see something that interests me, then I'll go for it" kind of thing. I wouldn't say that I've escalated to a full-scale "Operation New Career" DEFCON 5 or anything. Maybe I've gone from a 1 to a 3. So, increased urgency, but nevertheless, it's still by my choice which makes the pressure and urgency all self-imposed.

This past weekend was great! We got a Christmas tree on Saturday in record time. No joke. We were walking by the racks were the pre-cut trees are, and both A. and I saw a tree and said, "This one's great! But too bad it's tagged." Seconds later, to our surprise, the "tagged" tree was tagged with a price tag - not a reserved tag! A. went around to other trees to see if there were any other viable options while I stood quasi in line and tell people that they can get in front of me... 20 minutes later, we're on the road back home. Good stuff.

Another great thing; saw my best friend since 5th grade. He and his wife might be moving to the area - yay! Big YAY! And, they're "with child." Kind of weird at first to know that the kid you used to play GI Joes with is going to be a dad. Oddly enough, that was the first thing I thought of. The mind is weird like that. So, now, not only do I have find myself a 'job' but I'm on the hunt for him as well! He hasn't charged me with the duty, but what else are friends for, right?

Well, it's now 8:01 AM on a Monday morning. A wicked cold morning. Like 18 degrees when I woke up cold. B-r-r-r.

I'll get back to work now... I'll do better with posting. I apologize.

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Something to think about...

2008-11-24T15:27:00.000-05:00

“There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range
risks and costs of comfortable
inaction.”
John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
35th President of the United
States

The Human Calendar

2008-11-14T07:20:00.001-05:00

So, I can't even begin to tell you why I've been so delinquent in my postings lately. Some of it trivial, some of it life altering - most of it just not being around! I've collected quite a few items to share that I've found out there on the internet, so I'll start posting these soon. First up: The Human Calendar.

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Supersonic Camera

2008-10-30T14:43:00.000-04:00

This is pretty cool!

Cough Caught on Supersonic Camera:

http://gizmodo.com/5069798/cough-captured-on-film-using-supersonic-photography-technique

Go Penn State!

2008-10-27T12:11:00.001-04:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rob Peterson <rbpeterson.ii@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:33:49 -0400
Subject: Go Penn State!
To: rbpeterson.ii.365230@gmail.com

PSU pulled out another win - in the horseshoe of Ohio State! Of all
places, Joe Pa was able to get a win someplace that he hasn't been
able to since 1978. They are still listed at #3 in the BCS, but I'm
sure they'll be moving up. Not to mention, they have a huge
opportunity to go 12-0. Kudos to Clark, but it wasn't Clark that
finished the game as the PSU QB, it was Devlin. So what happened to
Clark? Lame excuse came during the game tha siad he was hit hard and
was 'foggy'. But, looking at how upset he was and by the way he was
moving on the sideline, the only thing he was foggy about was how to
connect to his receivers. Hopefully, his HD vision will be coming back
next week for Iowa.

--
Sent from my mobile device

The Hill

2008-10-23T11:03:00.001-04:00

Wow. Ex-Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan is getting grilled today on the Hill...

I'll be traveling to a Log Home Show in Chantilly, VA tomorrow. I'm not 100% sure how the turn-out is going to be with the current economic conditions. However, I believe there is still a lot of people out there that have a longer term mindset; do what you can now while you can - the future price is only going to be higher. Same with the stock market... That's why Warren Buffet is out there spending billions of dollars. Must be nice! :)

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

2008-10-17T13:10:00.000-04:00

So McCain was going off the wrong side of the stage, and as he turned to show that he knew he was wrong, he made this face. Don't people know there are a few hundred other people wielding cameras that can capture moments like this that last forever?! It is quite a funny picture though. Makes me laugh. Hey, those who can't make fun of themselves are too fragile for 'public' office...
Photo credits: Jim Bourg/Reuter (can also be found online here)

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Farm show

2008-10-14T08:17:00.000-04:00

So we went to the farm show... lovely time. There are always a lot of interesting people at the farm show. Good folks out for the evening enjoying the local produce, animals, and food. The food draws the real crowds. Where else can you can get a sausage sandwich, waffle fries, pizza, gyros, chili and a milkshake all in one place?

I've been doing quite a bit more in ways of photography. I tentatively may be shooting some friends... they have 3 kids so it might be hangout and take pictures in the 'natural' environment while they play and what not. Always a good time though.

Today is training day at work... 9-12 and then 2-3. Awesome!

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Warfield

2008-10-12T21:09:00.000-04:00

Spent a day at the Warfield's. They have a very happy little girl and another on the way... Here she is playing at the playground having a grand time! You can see more: here.

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Funny commercial

2008-10-11T08:58:00.000-04:00

I love this commercial... watch it again. It's funny!

(you can also see it on Mastercard's website; scroll to find "Robot Dance")

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Reading for kicks

2008-10-10T08:48:00.000-04:00

Sorry it's been a while since my last post. I really don't have an excuse... I've been busy with stuff, but nothing of such great urgency that it would cause me to not write something -- anything.

I've been reading and studying more about photography as of late. It is interesting the number of different approaches you can take to learn to do something. Some just do it and learn 'on-the-job', which is good for experimenting. Some have to learn from being with or watching someone else do it, until they get comfortable doing it themselves. I do both of these approaches, but also do the learn-by-reading method. It's always been something that I believe in; if you can read it and read it to understand it, you can do it.

I think that is a problem with a lot of people... they want things done for them. No one seems to want to actually 'do' (let alone learn!). It ties into our 'now' society that we've created with fast-food, drive-thru's, instant coffee and instant downloads. There are some people that haven't read a book since high school. Not bad if you're a freshman or sophomore in college; really bad if you're turning 50 this year. Reading for fun/enjoyment or to gain knowledge doesn't seem to happen anymore. So my challenge to the 2 people that may read this is to go and read a book between now and the end of the year.

Currently reading: "Sell and Resell your Photos" and "The Kite Runner".
Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Great weekend.

2008-10-05T19:46:00.000-04:00

Two great friends.

Our friend C. visited today. She's been a great friend since high school. We all have lasted through college and through post-college higher education living hundreds of miles away from each other. After a fun weekend (like the one we had this weekend), you come away from it feeling very blessed that you have such people in your life. It's intriguing when you think back to the number of people that you've introduced yourself to and been introduced to by others and why some people stick with you.

I'm very happy that I have a lot of friends that if I needed to call them for something, they woudl be available for me. I hope you do, too!

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Office Visitor

2008-10-03T07:24:00.000-04:00

So, I was walking by my coworker's cubicle and something was scurrying across the desk...

This nice 'little' fellow was clearly lost. After several shots, I took him outside where he belongs.

After all of the hype of the VP debates; who was going to freeze-up, who was going to mis-quote and put their shoe in their mouth... all of the big ideas that both VP candidates were going to ruin their tickets... a bust! I thought they both did a pretty good job answering and side-stepping questions and turning answers that pointed towards their running mates. It definitely wasn't the circus that the media was portraying. But, you have to ask yourself, "how often does the media drum 'it' up?" ['it' being most things thought to be crucial in society]

Have a good one!

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

OpenOffice

2008-09-30T20:00:00.001-04:00

I found this today and it's quite cool. If you're tired of paying Microsoft, I suggest you look into this. It's completely compatable with Microsoft docs... Check it out:
http://www.java.com/en/download/openoffice.jsp

Enjoy and happy creating!

It's the weekend!

2008-09-27T10:32:00.000-04:00

A. 30th birthday was a success (in my book). A. and I took off work yesterday for her birthday, so that's one good thing! I woke up yesterday morning really early and put 'the gift' on her side of the bed on the night stand. She woke up and said, 'I see a bow!'. So she opened up her gift from me bright and early in the morning. I got her a pair of diamond stud earrings. She's been wanting them for some time, so why not on a milestone b-day? I must say, they look quite good on her!

We originally took off for the birthday and to go hiking, but being 66 and raining, we had to find something else to do. A.'s parents came down for the weekend; dinner out last night; and then the weekend is up in the air. It's now supposed to be rainy all weekend (I think we're to get aroun 1.5" tomorrow), so we won't be doing to much outside. Guess we'll have to stay in and watch football!:)

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

One day to go...

2008-09-25T19:02:00.001-04:00

Only one day to go to A.'s birthday! Well, I guess only one night really... Today's surprise was quite funny. I took our spare key to our car and told her to close her eyes. I then led her to the garage and opened the door. I told her, "once I hand you what I'm holding, you can open your eyes.". I handed it [the key] to her and she felt around it with her hands and her eyes got big. I stepped away and there, in the garage was a new Volvo XC90!! Oh, yeah, a brand new Matchbox Volvo XC90 :). Laughter followed :).

Funny. Priceless. I'm glad she didn't have a heart attack!

Delivery Day

2008-09-24T07:34:00.000-04:00

A. big gift is coming today. I have to have it delivered to work, so it's not sitting around on the front porch at home. Not to mention, the vendor that I ordered it from requires the purchaser to actually sign for it - not a neighbor, receptionist, or spouse - the actual purchaser. Which is good in a way. Takes some liability away from them I guess...

A lot of financial happenings as of late. I got a call from a developer who is fairly sure that the project he's working on is going down the tubes because the lender may be going bankrupt. I'm trying to research some lenders for him, but things are a lot different than they were a year ago - even 6 months ago. Save your pennies - 2009 is going to be farely bumpy as well.

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Wallpaper

2008-09-23T07:36:00.000-04:00

I'm using this as my desktop at work right now. It was created using a process I call "70MPH". That is, put a slow shutter speed on your camera, place the camera safely so you can take a picture out the window - all while traveling in your car at 70MPH. Disclaimer: Please have someone else drive while you're performing this task - do not drive & click!

I think I'm over the Steelers losing to the Eagles this past Sunday. I can't believe the speed of the Eagles' defensive line. They didn't show that kind of speed against the Cowboys last Monday night (when they got trampled), but I guess a morale buster like the Cowboys loss will strike a fire under you to ultra-perform!

There has been some big news going on here at the bank, we've been sold. Not a huge deal at this point, but we'll see what the future holds. There is quite a bit of information in the press release and an online article.

The countdown continues for A. big 3-0 birthday. Her big gift should be coming tomorrow (cross fingers). I haven't told anyone what it is, other than the people that I've collaborated with on the specifics of the gift... i.e. using my connections to get a deal or two! ;)

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Happy Anniversary!

2008-09-21T20:52:00.000-04:00

Here's a little spider that I found while hiking with A. at Governor Dick's park. I've often seen these spiders around but never know how to find out what kind they are...

Today was the big 0-6 for A. and I for our anniversary... this is a short day to write... my apologies.

:)

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

2008-09-20T10:49:00.000-04:00

I think these old barns are really cool. This one in particular is from the 1800's with some updates added to it. I particularly like the cut opens for ventilation. This is one of many of 1000s of tobacco barns that are in Lancaster County, PA.

I got up extra early today and fertilized the yard and washed the car. All exciting, I know... so, now I have to hang a canoe in the garage, finish the car up and hopefully get out for some exercise somewhere. A. and I are celebrating our 6th anniversary this weekend, so we'll have some good grub tonight when we go out to dinner; Rosa Rosa Restorante Italiano.

Enjoy your day!

Don't forget to visit my photoblog here.

Mowing in the fall

2008-09-18T20:48:00.000-04:00

Isn't it unbelievable how frequently you have to mow in the fall? All of a sudden, the grass decides to take on a life of its own and it's hard to keep up! I just got back from NC on Sunday night, mowed on Monday morning and I did it again this evening! (Monday, I had to mow twice since it was so high.)

I digress. I've picked up a new t.v. show this fall and dropped Heroes. Heroes is a good show, but I can't keep up with it on the day that it's on and I have usually watched 1 show earlier that night so it makes me think I've seen enough t.v. by that point. The new show is Fringe on Fox. It's a bit X-Files-ish/CSI/Knight Rider(the older good one)/A-team-ish. Yeah, hard to believe a show with that mix would actually be good, but it is!

I got A.'s big 3-0 present today. She's either going to be excited or upset; t-minus 7 days til we find out which one it will be!

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Great website

2008-09-17T07:54:00.000-04:00

I found a great website today pre-work hours whilst browsing the internet. It's a photographer's website and he offers many tips and tricks on all things photographic. His website: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/

A. and I went out last night as part of her 30-days of surprises. The original intent was going to the Country Barn & Market, and go into the pumpkin patch and get our own pumpkins. They only do that on Saturdays. Strike one. Well, this was a two part surprise; the other part was to do country line dancing. There was supposed to be an hour beginning of instruction and then they let you loose! We got into the big barn to get our country line learning on... these people that were already there - pros. Seriously, if there is a pro country line dancing circuit, these people were on it. We watched for a little bit, but feeling quite intimidated when the instructor said, "Now, I can show y'all a great shortcut for the jazz-box." The what? Everyone else there was shaking their heads up and down like they knew what he was talking about... Strike two.

So, we went and played miniature golf instead! A. shot 3 hole-in-one's! Three! I won't say who won the game! :)