A.J. Van Beest pontificates on life, the universe, and everything. Because space is big. I mean really big...

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

New home

So.

I think I've moved, at least for now. I don't think I'm going to pull all my old stuff (ie. the stuff in Blogger) to my new home, but you already know where to find all of it anyway, right? It'll be here, just waiitng for you to come back and check it out.

Anyway, my new home is at beest.weblogs.us. Swing by, check it out, have fun. Remember that I'm stillmoving in, so things aren't quite what they will be. Wallpapered, I mean. With that nice green paisley they have at Wal-Mart...

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Potential for change

I've been experimenting a little with some other blogging systems and software and am considering a change in venue for my blog. I like Blogger's ease, but I want more flexibility and expandability for my stuff.

For instance, if I could assign posts to different catagories, I wouldn't feel like I have to maintain five freakin' blogs. Of course, I *don't* maintain five blogs, and that's a big part of the problem, too.

At any rate, consider this your notice. I'll get back to you with more information once I decide what I'm going to do.

Cat update

I'm happy to say that Vaca is still alive and (reasonably) well. His hind quarters and legs are still paralyzed, but he's learned how to get around pretty well with just his front legs. In fact, he gets around well enough that he generally beats all the other cats to the food bowls at feeding time.

I still have to express his bladder which pretty much turns into a little twice-a-day skirmish, but other than that, he's doing alright. He comes over a few times a day to get some lovin', and when he's feeling particularly frisky, he either chases other cats around or tries to sneak outside.

Soon, The Wife and I are going to build him a little wheelchair/cart contraption that he can use to go faster and scare the bejesus outta the other cats. Then Vaca will live up to his new nickname: Handicat.

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

AJ's Corallary

The philisophical underpinnings of the universe as I know it, part II

Someone's need for a particular piece of information is inversely proportional to the likelyhood of them having that information. For instance, if you're putting your power boat into the lake and don't know about the plug in the back, you're really going to have a serious need for knowledge. However, if you know about the plug, odds are you won't get into a situation where you really *need* that information.

Change it, deal with it, or leave it

The philisophical underpinnings of the universe as I know it, part I

For the past couple days during the commute home, I've been regaling one of my co-workers with some of my home-spun philosophy as a means of combating road boredom. Poor guy.

It struck me yesterday that these musing are prime blog fodder. Then it struck me that my blog is in dire need of prime fodder. Soon Pete's going to strike me, too, but that's another story. Anywho, here's the first part:

When confronted with anything in the universe, a guy pretty much has three options:

  • Change it
  • Deal with it
  • Leave it

Change it

This one is my personal favorite; YMMV. There's almost always something you can do in or to a situation to change it more to your liking. Someone in your face? Smile. Hungover? Drink water. Fat? Exercise. Stripped naked and locked in solitary confinement? Play mental chess. You get the picture.

Deal with it

Sometimes change is too much work, but things aren't bad enough to leave. So shrug, say "Oh well," and go on with life. This is also a good option, especially for all the slackers in my corps de readers. It's especially effective when served with a rougish grin.

Leave it

Sometimes, like when you piss off the big, drunk townie at his cousin's wedding, the best thing to do is just get the hell out. Pack up yer kit, or not, and hit the road. Maybe come back, maybe not. Now granted, this is a whole lot like running away, but you know, sometimes that's what the situation calls for.

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Promoted

Now that things are apparently working again, I can let you all know that Pete and I were promoted to rokku kyu (6th level green belt) in Taijutsu tonight. Yeah, so havachu!

Testing

I was just farting around with settings. Hope I haven't broken anything.

Sunday, April 10, 2005

Wierdest shopping list ever

"Let's see, sir: That's one jumbo package of number-three diapers, three small bottles of "Chicken Dinner" baby food, and one turkey baster. Will that be all tonight?"

I wonder how these clerks manage to keep a straight face when someone like me rolls through their lane. The only thing better would have been for me to have The Wife with me, dressed in thigh-high patent leather boots, hot pants, and a fur coat.

Get that smirk off your face, Jim.

Just for the record, two of the three things on that shopping list are for the paralyzed cat who's not eating or drinking.

Saturday, April 09, 2005

Fucking April

We came home this afternoon to find Vaca, our long-haired cowboy cat lying in the mud in the ditch by the side of the road. We rushed him to the vet, where our good friend Dr. Dan checked him over. While there's no external trauma and no obvious breaks in the x-rays, Vaca's paralyzed from about two thirds of the way along his spine on back.

He's home now, lying on a towel in the bathroom next to food and water, after taking a good bite out of my hand and swipe out of Dan's upper arm at the office. We're hoping that there's just some bruising compressing his spinal cord and that the steroids and anti-inflamatories he's on will reduce that swelling and get him back on his feet.

If that doesn't work, though, but he's still eating, drinking, and not in terrible pain, then we'll have a wheelchair cat. Like I told the Wife, if one of us became paralyzed, we'd figure out how to deal with it. It's the same thing for the four-legged members of our family.

Oh, but that that were all for April.

This morning, I buried the car pretty much up to the axel in the mud in our yard, trying to get it out of the way for the truck I borrowed for a dump run. I lot my temper, snapped at the Wife, then wound up paying $83 and change for a twenty-foot tow.

At the beginning of the month, Molly was recovering from a near fatal cut to her forearm. She's fine, now, so that's good, but jeesh.

Last year this time, we had a chimney fire, the deck stairs collapsed under me giving me a nice little ride on sharp wood edges, and the Wife put a nail pretty much *through* her foot.

So here're three cheers for April. Ending.

Friday, April 08, 2005

Rev

I got the bike fired up Monday evening. I went home, ostensibly to sleep because I was running on about four hours of sleep, but then I saw her sitting there, glowing red in the late afternoon sunlight, taunting me.

So I figured I'd take a look to see if the battery cable was really the problem. Uh, yeah. It is. So now, I get a new battery, charge it up, attach a new cable, don the leathers and helmet and go for a ride. Of course, if you'd like to contribute to this little venture, feel free to send me a little gift. Or a bigger gift. Either would be great!

Love,
-aj