I don't know how it got to this point, but it's turning out that I'm a guy who can't do spontaneous things anymore. I'm not saying I'm not willing to do things spontaneously, it's just that I don't have time for that. My friends pretty much have to make plans in advance with me, if they want me to join along for something. Calling me on the day, the day before, or even a week before, can often make me have to give a response of "sorry, I can't make it" to my friends. That can be a little annoying but it's just the truth. Most of the time, I already have plans to do something, be it chores, obligations, or just any pre-planned things. I literally use my calendar quite often, jotting down things like "dinner with friends" at this date, "go to concert" at this other date, or "need to take dogs to groomers" at this date. Sure working graveyards Sunday nights to Thursday nights makes a huge difference, but that's where Friday afternoon/night, all of Saturday, and Sunday to Thursday afternoons come in handy. Of course that's MY schedule, and not everybody can work with that. I sometimes feel bad about my not being so available to my friends, but that's just honestly how things are. I'm pretty sure that I'm not alone with this "problem" as a lot of people have their own lives to live, and most likely understands this situation. This isn't high school anymore, it's just living the adult life I guess.

- Make It Mine Random -

Flash on iPhone not so easy (link)

Christian Bale vs. Bill O'Reilly - NSFW (video)

Sayid from "Lost" bombs at stand up (video)

compliments (video)

Kittens Riding a Roomba (video)

Cold Case Suspect (video)

duck hunt dog (video)

the future of sex (video)

The PopCrunch 100 Hottest Women of 2009 (pix)

Google Latitude (link)

As much as a person can try, there are just some things you can never truly be prepared for. Case in point, my wife's grand mother just passed away, from what I was told was a heart attack. As I'm typing this, it hasn't even been a full day yet since it happened, so it's very much still fresh in our thoughts. All I can really do for my wife at this point is to be a shoulder for her to cry on, and just remind her how her grandma lived a good long life. I did not know her grand mother that well, but I was familiar with her, and she was always nice to me. While it may not be hitting me as hard as my wife, I can feel her pain.

What Are the Colors of Your Heart?

Your Heart is Blue and Green

Your heart is open and dynamic. You are flexible, optimistic, and expressive. You bring honesty and intimacy to relationships. You're good at expressing your needs to your partner.

What I've been listening to lately...

1) Bic Runga - drive
2) Sepultura - a-lex
3) Reel Big Fish - fame fortune and fornication
4) the Jonas Brothers - a little bit longer
5) The Living End - white noise
6) Various Artists - total overload vol 2 tribute to metallica

Last week we were fostering a chihuahua, and it was just a temporary thing because we recently gave her to her new foster parent. In exchange we got the dog we were really suppose to have been fostering, a female border-collie that we will supposedly be keeping for a few months. Unlike the case with the chihuahua, this one is infinitely more friendlier, and can get along with my dogs. The white dog seems to feel indifferent about her, and while the brown dog sees her as competition that needs to be put in her place, they at least still get along. Maybe it helps that she is slightly bigger than my two dogs. No need for any separating situations this time around, which is a very good thing for me.

This border-collie may not have had proper house training though. The first day we had her, she actually peed at the proper spot the dogs are suppose to pee; the pee pads. A few hours later, she pees somewhere else on the carpet. Then later on, she holds it in and pees outside. Which one is it?! My brown dog seems to be getting in on the action too, because she actually peed on the carpet instead of the pee pad, which is something she hasn't done for a very long time. The brown one was probably thinking "wait, SHE gets to pee on the carpet? Fine I'll do that too." This border-collie also has the habit of pouncing on counters, and does not seem to know the "negative commands" that I use to my dogs. Some work will have to be done and adjusted in the next few days.

So far, the best thing I like about this border-collie is the fact she is so friendly. She has a tendency of pressing herself up against me, as if she wants me to hug her like a pillow. I find that very endearing, although when she does that, she quietly growls at the other dogs when they try and approach me at that point. She wants to keep me to herself? oohhh, how cute. I like this dog, I really like this dog. Hopefully this just isn't a case of a "honeymoon period." I do need to find a nickname for her though...

My Random Apocalypse

superbowl ads (video)

F*** My Life (link)

Flight Saftey Procedures Animated (video)

banned PlayStation 3 Kid (video)

President Bush Sr. Joke (video)

Her Morning Elegance (video)

good directions (video)

Roadside Ass-sistance - NSFW (video)

Apple's multi-touch patent (video)

google's M Lab (link)

Recently, one of the talk radio shows I listen to brought up this question, "with the bad economy the way it is, will you be willing to take a 35% pay cut if it guarantees you keeping your job, or will you fight against a pay cut even if it means you might lose your job?" That's a question I might have to answer in the near future. I'm under a union at work, and contract negotiations with the company I work for have been underway. I know bad timing for that right? From what I've been hearing, negotiations have been pretty bad, and my union negotiators have walked away from the table from not being able to find an agreement with the company. You see, the company is looking to give everybody a pay cut, and in my case it really would look something like a 35% pay cut. My monthly budget would be really really really strained if that happens, and I am a little bit concerned. I could survive in that condition, but it will be rough. I could look for another job, but with the market conditions, you can imagine how tough that might be.

To think that months ago, the union was actually optimistic about asking for more things on our benefit. I remember asking "are they nuts, how is that going to happen, when we already lost a lot on the current contract we are working under now?" Sure enough, that's the reality, and talks about going on strike have been passed around. The company has that blanket excuse of saying "the economy is bad," so us going on strike is going to look a little petty to the public. To think that I'm now hoping we just extend our current contract is kinda sad, because it wasn't that great to begin with. It's just a lose-lose situation.