That Karma bitch seems to be on vacation. A few years ago I decided that Karma mistook me for someone else, and started firing away. I think she may have married Murphy of Murphy's Law fame, and they both just let it fly. This weekend, however, they both seemed to have been on a hiatus; Sunday in particular...

Annie and I slept in to the sinful hour of nine. We got up and got busy. Well, I got busy with house work, she got busy dressing stuffed animals, and using scissors to modify Barbie clothes to fit small animals and horses. I was changing light bulbs in the deck lights. This includes taking out two tiny screws that hold up a huge glass shield. Yes, I ended up dropping screws. But I found them. That is unheard of around here. Alright, I lost one, but I know where it is if I choose to venture under the deck. However, I found three screws that had fallen out of my PJ pockets and I was sure they had fallen under the deck. After I gave up on searching for them, I found them. I can do without one for now.

Three days before I lost the bottom of my retainer. Yeah, I know I'm a teenager and have to have a retainer when I sleep. Deal with it. It's not like you see me then. I had knocked the container off the nightstand and they went flying. Annie and I both scoured the floor. We looked in every conceivable and inconceivable place. No dice. When I was changing the bedding, I decided to try again before I called the orthodontist. The puzzle went through my head, and I graphically put together possible scenarios. Sure enough, there it was. It was hidden behind the corner of the nightstand between the edge of the area rug and the wall. It fit perfectly and secretively in that inch and a half of space.

The best one was the DirecTV HD DVR. Friday it puked all over the chest of drawers and died. It would not power up for anything. I tried and tried, and figured it would have to be replaced. I unplugged it until Sunday. I plugged it in, and after a few minutes it started working. Granted, it lost everything I had recorded, but it works!

Maybe they are on a honeymoon, and forgot about me. When they get back, I hope they go through the list and discover that they had the wrong person...

Really, my last name is not Hockenburger...

That's really all I wanted to say. I have had many discussions with people on every level of life, and they have all yielded insight. Life is good, but not good enough. That's why I am an engineer. We can always make it better...

Three little girls at the Boardwalk tomorrow...

When I moved to California, I adored the Stellar's Jays. They were so different in appearance from the Eastern Blue Jays that I was used to. They prefer the mountains, so I never got to know them until I moved to my current home. That's when I discovered they are assholes. Every time I feed Tolkien, they hear the noise and come in flocks to eat his food. I normally deal with that, but just now they really ticked me off. I put Tolkien's heartworm medicine on top of the food. Two minutes later, a jay landed on top of the rail 10' in front of me with one of the pieces in its beak. That stuff is not cheap. Had I a pellet gun, I would have shot the jerk...

Alright, work stuff... I hesitate to bring this up, but it is going through my head, so what the heck. I had a "friend" that told me that she didn't want to hear anymore about work things because she couldn't sympathize anymore given that she felt I needed a job change. I won't go into that, but I have been struggling for a while with work satisfaction. Yes, I know my boss reads this, but he knows, too. At the most recent conference I was approached by Apple and had a suggestion by Intel that they may have positions that would be good for me. Now, neither company has continued the conversation, but it made me wonder if there is something better out there for Annie and me.

Then something weird happened. It is not only in my writing that I can not keep my mouth shut. I do the same thing at work. This project (set of projects) that I have been working on have resulted in me not only speaking out, but doing work that is technically not my job. As a result, one of the managers has suggested that I take on a more managerial role in the product development as it continues. I am not sure how I feel about that. Given some level of control, I think I could force some changes that would be beneficial, and the change in responsibility would be nice. Let's face it, I want to scream every time I review another set of schematics or a board layout. I have helped design and produce on the order of twenty different computer systems over the past ten years. That includes well over a hundred circuit boards. I don't know the exact count... What's another computer system? What's another board? I have schematics and board files for another fifteen PCBs next to me right now. It has become routine and mundane. I am tired of it. I think about my dad that did his job regardless of how boring and routine it became for years. Especially after we moved to Missouri. He taught me a lot about work ethics. I think about my last boss who also taught me a lot about work life. Could I just bite the bullet, put my professional career in stagnation and continue? I don't know, but I don't think so.

I am only 37 years old. I am struggling with doing the same thing for the last ten years. I can't do it for another 30. Had Sun's stock recovered better, I'd have retired from the computer industry and become a housing contractor. Well, that didn't happen, so I need the money from high-tech. But I have to do something different. I am not sure yet what it would mean for Annie and me, but I think it is necessary. The suggestion that I had yesterday will most likely not come to fruition. The person that would make the final decision doesn't like the three letters that are allowed to come after my name. He most likely would not like me to have a position of control, nor would he want me reporting directly to him. However, it brings out in stark relief the need for a change.

I don't know what I am going to do...

Dazed and Confused...

I can't believe it has been this long, but four years ago, I actually paid money to go into indentured servitude. Her name is Marie, and when the weather is good, she comes out and makes me want to spend money on her. She is not a bad mistress, though. She never asks for it, nor does she trade for it (like too many other girlfriends I have had). No, she takes care of me no matter what, and that is why I do it. My last purchase for her was a trunk that will hold my backpack for work and hopefully not make her look like she has a big butt. Granted, she is getting a little older, so maybe that should expected. The picture below is taken at an angle that she finds very slimming, so we are still on good terms.



I took this picture a few times with a star filter, but the chrome reflected so much light that I couldn't see the bike through the stars.

The trunk serves another purpose. Annie has been looking forward to being tall enough to ride on the bike. I think she is there, and wanted to provide her with a backrest to make her feel secure (you can never truly be secure on a bike, you just have to feel like you are).

The slavery/servitude comes from the impulsive need to keep her clean. I started cleaning her yesterday afternoon, and finished it this afternoon. As diligent as I try to be, she has spots on her from corrosion, and even some rust spots. Damn it. I have spent way too much money on her, but that's just the way it is when you own a beautiful bike. She gets me to work and back with half the fuel cost as the truck (Stitch). So, I continue to do these things. While I was cleaning, I realized all the things I have done to her. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I'll confess the following:

o Replaced the stock exhaust with Thunderheaders
o Replaced the stock foot boards, pegs, and passenger boards
o Replaced the stock lenses with smoked ones
o Installed rings around the lights
o Installed a fork lock cover
o Replaced the stock handlebars with beach bars
o Replaced the stock front fender skirt with a custom
o Replaced the stock license plate bracket with a slanted one
o Replaced the stock bulbs with LEDs
o Installed custom electronics to turn on the rear lights when the brakes are applied for improved visibility, as well as a module to regulate the LEDs
o Replaced the stock throttle and clutch levers with custom ones
o Replaced the stock brake fluid reservoir covers with chrome ones
o Replaced the stock seat with a Corbin custom seat so my butt would stop falling asleep on long trips
o Added brackets and highway pegs to further reduce my butt-sleeping problem
o Installed chrome covers on passenger footboards
o Installed 2-up system for additional (removable) parts on the rear of the bike
o Purchased luggage rack
o Purchased trunk for rear of bike (just did this)
o Installed accent LEDs that look really cool in the dark (like I drive at night a lot)
o Had the Big-Bore kit installed after the mustang freaking blew me away on the road (this was a big one)
o Replaced the stock mirrors with some cool ones I found on E-Bay
o Added a pouch to the windshield
o Installed high-performance air filter
o Installed a racing tuner to better mix air/fuel
o Added some bags to hold small stuff on the rear engine guards
o Added bolt cover kit to hide the nasty heads of bolts
o Replaced the handlebar handles with custom ones
o I have three helmets
o Bought day/night goggles
o Installed chrome covers to special places on the brakes
o Installed front axle-nut covers (twice)
o Installed battery charger module for long stays in the garage (sinful, I know)

Holy cow, I think that was fairly exhaustive. I don't want to go into what it has cost me, but I stay by the point that she takes good care of me, and will take care of Annie when she starts riding with me.

Heavy Metal Thunder...

Besides the two wonderful comments that suggested that I should write, I received some phone talk that suggested that I should continue writing. What the heck.

I spent the last week at a conference. Yes, the conference was in Hawaii. That doesn't mean I enjoyed it any more than any other place. I arrived on Saturday (without my luggage) and checked into my room that I shared with a co-worker. I bought a pair of swim trunks and borrowed a shirt. We spent a little time on the beach, and I went for a brief swim after dark. Woo-hoo... I did my thing at the conference to make sure I was involved. Tuesday afternoon, I heard from my buddy from Intel (through a friend from NCR) that he wanted me to give the presentation on Wednesday. I was totally unprepared. He made the presentation, and I looked at it one and a half times before I had to give it. We have completely different jobs, so his creation was completely different than I would have done. I was lost. We talked about it briefly over breakfast before I had to give it, and I was still lost.

I hadn't brought a lot of dress clothes, and went to the presentation in dress slacks, a sport coat, a t-shirt, and dress shoes. I had no intention of staying that way. I stood up in front of 30 to 40 people and informed them that I hadn't planned on doing this presentation, and hadn't planned my attire accordingly... and I had no plan of staying dressed that way. I immediately started changing clothes. By the time I was done, I looked like a beach bum. I had swim trunks, sandals, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. I was faced with people laughing hysterically and people in shock. I guess this was a first for my professional society. I delivered my presentation (it was horrible), and went on. I had a number of people come up to me saying, 'I heard you stripped in your presentation.' Well, that wasn't quite accurate, and I denied it as much as was possible.

Thursday, I took the afternoon off and swam in the ocean. That was my fun time. Otherwise, it was all work. It could be good, though. I had someone approach me about a job that seems very interesting. We'll see...

Tired, but ok...

I think this is it for my writing here. It doesn't seem like I get anything out of it anymore. The few people who read this actually talk to me on the phone at times, so it is not like I am telling anyone anything they wouldn't learn anyway. As a result, good bye to the Displaced Ozarkian...

Done...

I need a course in temporal mechanics to make sense of the time change. It is a bit shy of six in the morning 'today,' which translates to about nine at night for me here. My day is almost over, and it has just begun in California. It's just wierd.

My time in Taiwan so far has been tremendous... very educational. It is actually very strange. I will not be able to write this without sounding offensive, and I apologize if I offend anyone. My experience with the Americanized Asian culture has been less than satisfactory during my time in California. The people that are of Asian influence or descent that I have worked with have always been tremendous people, but the odd person that I meet in a store or with whom I do not have everyday contact have been perceived as rude and inconsiderate. There. I said it. My perception is apparently wrong. It is not a cultural 'thing.' It might be an adaptation given the response the Asian communities in America have received. I don't know. However, the Taiwanese are my kind of people. I am in awe of their dedication and response to other people here. I could live here, and that is something coming from me.

In my opinion, American business faces a real crisis. Service is king. If a company takes care of someone that contacts them, they have just gained a customer for life. We suck at it. The Taiwanese are masters. It really is the little things that we often think that don't matter and no one will remember. We are wrong. Granted, I am staying at a five star hotel (incidentally, a British person just walked by and snidely told me that he 'enjoyed' the ambiance that my computer screen was emitting), but the people have been tremendous (not the British ass). The Taiwanese are all about respect for others and being helpful. They hire people to stand on the road near parking exits to make sure no one gets hurt. When entering a restaurant there are multiple hosts/hostesses to ensure that no one approaches the restaurant without receiving immediate service. In the lab today, there were signs about appropriate conduct... things like 'no photographs' because virtually everything is proprietary. The English versions said what we would unfortunately expect: No Photographs. The Chinese version started with that all important word: Please.

Yesterday, I was working on the computer in my room. I knew that housekeeping would be around soon, and put out a sign that I thought would indicate that I didn't want to be disturbed. Actually, it was the wrong sign. So housekeeping rang the doorbell. Yes, there is a doorbell on the room. Nothing as sloppy as knocking on the door can be tolerated. I went to the door, and explained to the lady that I was working, and that I really didn't need anything. She asked twice more if she could do anything, gave me three bottles of water, tried to give me towels, and wanted to make sure that there was absolutely nothing that I needed. In America? Before I could have finished the sentence that I didn't need anything, housekeeping would have turned away and run down the hall in joy that there was one less room that needed to be taken care of.

The company that we are here supporting (without their asking) has treated us like royalty. I have traveled in support of Sun to Europe where I was at a loss for transportation and took a train that I wasn't sure went where I wanted, and a taxi that cost a fortune. This company has us picked up at the airport and had a car service take us from the hotel to the company and back. One of the engineers bought me lunch, a coffee afterwards, and went out of his way to allow me to experience a new drink in Taiwan (an interesting tea drink). He even sent one back to the hotel with me. The workers in the hotel refuse to enter or exit the elevator before me. The server in the bar repeatedly will not let me plug in my notebook in the lounge area. She does it for me. She has also refused repeatedly to accept a tip on the bill. By the way, she is incrediblly beautiful.

When approached on the street, people are very accepting and helpful. Granted, once Taiwanese get into a car, it is like a cage match. They apparently have a fundamental grasp of the theory of relativity. Even thought there doesn't seem room enough to get a car into a traffic hole, they make it work instantly. Traffic laws seem more like preferences or suggestions than law. No room to fit your car in the lane? Squeeze over on the shoulder, you'll fit. One lane to turn left? Move around the vehicle in front of you. You'll make it. Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way. Cross a street at your own risk.

Still, I have fallen in love with this small 'country.' And no, it is not becuase there are stunningly beautiful women everywhere. By the way, virtually no one is obese here. The primary staple is noodles, which seems counter intuitive to a good diet, but these people work, and work hard. I was standing downstairs this morning waiting for the car to arrive (I was fifteen minutes early), and I saw the cars parked out front for similar purpose. One of the drivers was outside with a bottle of water and a rag wiping down his car to pass the time. Anyone in the service industry would do well to spend some time here. Heck, any human being in America would do well to take a lesson from this...

So glad I made this trip...

I continue battling designs on several fronts. I have a handle on it, but have to deal with some people that don't want to believe it. That's ok, though. I will spend Father's Day on a plane to Taiwan. The plane leaves around noon, and arrives in Taiwan late Monday. I am struggling with the time issues. The good news is that I return on the following Saturday, and arrive back in California before I leave. That's so cool.

I wish I wasn't going to Taiwan, though. If I weren't, I'd be on a plane to Germany. I'd like to go back to Germany... Someday.

Annie has been spectacular. She is dealing with the extra work hours well. Unfortunately, she watches too much TV, but at bed time we talk and tell stories. Of course, I get the low down on her school day on our way back from daycare.

Back to work...
Some day this project will ship...

Yes, I have become as spoiled as most Americans, and am realizing it now more than ever. I don't know how people used to handle the night when they had to use an outhouse located some distance from the house.

I have been trying to reduce my soda intake, and have consequently been drinking a lot of water... apparently too much water. I have to go to the bathroom two, sometimes three times each night. My bathroom is no closer to being done than it was a year and a half ago. Probably because I haven't started it, yet. As a result, I have to use the hall bathroom. Our house isn't that big, but when I am sleepy and in need of relief, it is a mile away... through an obstacle course. At first I tried to go without turning on a light. After I tripped, ran into a wall, tripped over the dog, bumped into an open door, stubbed my toe, tripped over Annie's backpack... (you get the picture) I decided to start turning on a light or two. I am not sure if that was any better because it brought into stark relief the mess that the house has become. I get out of bed, walk around it, avoid the exercise bench that has not been used in over a week, navigate through laundry, Annie's shoes and backpack, Tolkien, a set of misplaced accent tables, around the laundry doors that have been left open to encourage me to do laundry, and finally arrive at the bathroom.

Granted, I live in a somewhat secluded area. Others might say I live in the middle of nowhere. So, some times I decide to skip the journey to the bathroom. I open up the french doors, walk six feet to the edge of the deck and take care of business. I don't like the grass there anyway. To some degree, it isn't much different than using the bathroom. The septic tank is located there, so I am just bypassing the plumbing and tank, and going right to the leach lines. The only danger then is that I am so tired that I might take a header off the deck.

Fortunately, my boss told me yesterday that he is expecting me to take some comp time when this mess at work is all over. I think I will use that time to start the bathroom.

I guess I could cut back on the water...

I hate writing about frustrations all the time. So, just to say that all that other crap is not dominating, I thought I'd write briefly about what I am doing right now...

You see, there are serious advantages about living at the end of the road. No one sees me. Right now, the truck stereo is blaring away. One of the local radio stations has a Saturday night show that plays remixes of eighties tunes. Strangely enough, I enjoy it thoroughly. No one ever sees me dance. Ok, that's not terribly true. One of my friends has seen it. But we were generally half lit when she saw it. Well, of course Annie sees it, but she generally shakes her head and says, "why me?" (True story. She did it yesterday morning.) However, in the falling light and no neighbors, I can dance. And dance I will...

By the way, Debbie Harry of Blondie was really hot back in the day...


... Soon turned out, I had a heart of glass...