August Updates #4 - Bits and Pieces

My motto for August: "If you don't want to do a task, that's the task to do first." Next up: how to find more hours in a day.

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Rock n Roll News: the band, Rob, Jeff, Drew & I, is now official, having played at a party out in Ann Arbor ... so the band officially has a name ... Vintage 309. And a website. Very garage-ish classic rock radio style. So far. Too fun.

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After building a new computer for Diana, I found out that the game World of Warcraft can be really tough to get running in a stable fashion. No, I'm not a gamer. But we were shopping at CompUSA, and Di' really wanted this game - but there was no way her old PC would run it effectively. (Remember Robert's rule for buying a new computer: any $500 PC or laptop will serve you well - unless you're editing video, or you are a gamer.) Hours of tweaks and tests, different video cards, sound cards, RAM, even NIC's ... still getting lockups or intermittant reboots. So I gave up (and upgraded a different PC for her that I already had). Diana is now pleased.

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In professional news ...

...last week, I travelled, for the first time, to Houston, Texas, for cross-training with Waste Management's excellent corporate technical folks. It was pleasant diversion from the usual routine, and in addition to meeting those good people, I enjoyed walking around downtown, seeing the skyscrapers.

(Photo is First City Tower, home of the WM's corporate offices - training was across the street).

A wee bit nicer than downtown Detroit, despite the heat & humidity.

The elegant Magnolia Hotel in Houston has the funniest open-air rooftop swimming pool (it looks about thrice the length of their Jacuzzi, that is, it's really, really small, and 3 ft. deep) and a cute picture outside the pool/exercise room.

But even if 3 feet of water doesn't compel you to visit the roof, the view of the city from the roof (24 floors up, open-air) is worth visiting the pool.

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In the spirit of doing "things I always thought I should do but never got around to," I recently drove around under the I-75 bridge over downriver Detroit. (Ever time I've driven over the vast I-75 bridge, I've always wondered what it's like down there).

The industrial area is both sad and inspiring, sometimes at the same time. And seeing poorer neighborhoods reminds me to appreciate my achievements, and those of the people around me.

(Warning before you click 'em: some of these small pix are not my usual happy ones. But White Stripes fans may appreciate the last one.)

It was a strange journey, which started by the Lincoln Park fuel refinery storage tanks, and ended in downtown Detroit, at the Rennaisance Center. Which always picks my spirits up.

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Hometown News: Redford just might not be the fanciest town in southeast Michigan - but did you know it's one of the 25 safest in the country? CNN/Money sez so, so it must be true.

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As a nice follow-up to the EGO visit in July to the Edsel and Elenor Ford Home (see the July 2 weblog entry), Amy and I made a trip to The Henry Ford Estate in Dearborn, Michigan.

We visit there every year or two ... if you like walks through the grounds of the properties of great men, it makes for a fine afternoon.

August Updates #3 - EGO & Dahly

The second July and first August EGO Meetings were a good time, including meetings at Dave's and Eric's (tough competition after Peter's July meeting!) Due to too much topical and social conversation, our discussion of Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology was derailed again last time, so we shall have to go at it with more determination to wrap up the book!

In addition, several EGO'ists paid a visit to the Redford Theatre to see Hitchcock's North By Northwest starring Cary Grant. An outstanding movie - on the outside chance you haven't seen it, be sure to put it on your shortlist. Strangely, the Barton theater organ overture seemed overlong ... and we didn't win the fifty-fifty raffle again (Eric's the only one to win so far, in our years of Redford Theatre patronage).

Dahly remains ever sweet. 'Cept she still seems determined to dig a warren in our loveseat. I'm reminded of the story (for which I don't recall the source, perhaps a Leonard Peikoff lecture ... I know Barbed Brandon mentioned it too, but hope it's true anyway), of how Ayn Rand wouldn't stand for de-clawing her cats, despite the damage to her furniture - in her heirarchy of values, happy cats were way above nice furniture. I agree (though of course it's best to have both a happy bunny and nice furniture, if you can).

August Updates #2 - Ann Arbor Art Fair

The annual trip to the Ann Arbor Art Fair was fun! A zillion booths, some good art (though way-too-high crafts-to-art ratio, as always) and a mix of odd things too. Way too many people this year! We also stopped in some of the main street shops, and ice cream at the South Bend Chocolate Company, built into an old house on Main Street, is always a treat. We also bought an adorable bunny pic - I'll have to take a snapshot and post it later.

Diana and Amy and I took advantage of the opportunity to dine (twice, since we went both Friday night and Saturday afternoon) at the wonderful Seva Restaurant. If you've never been there, you should do something about that a.s.a.p.

We also stopped by Wizzywig, where we saw many strange things (not unusual, though one poster stood out - click, as always, for a larger image in a new window).

Our Art Fair experience was not without incident ... Amy was injured when a huge hole opened up suddenly in the pavement of the sidewalk near the parking structure, and swallowed her whole ... I won't post the gruesome photographs, you'll just have to imagine the carnage yourself. Paramedics just happened to be on the scene fixing up someone else (true!), and when they finished handling the emergency, patched Amy up well. Her knee & leg & arm took a good week to heal, but true to her gracious nature, she did NOT sue the city for the millions in damages to which she was entitled.

August Updates #1 - Diana's Graduation Continues!

Wow - no significant updates since early July ... well, here we go!

Diana's graduation from high school continued, with a graduation party held at her sister's place (which I still think of as Camp Heinrich, since Grandma Heinrich is still there!).
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Diana's
graduation
photograph,
is,
I think,
particularly
lovely.
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Apropos of the event being commemorated, I had a cake custom-made ... very last-minute ... by a baker who did a beautiful job on the flowers and such, but probably hadn't graduated (Contgratuldiox?) herself. Anyone can make a mistake - but some mistakes are truly unique.

How quickly they go ...

How quickly they turn ...
.

... from
rambunctious
troublemaker

into sweet
cuddlesome one!

Oof!

EGO Musicale!

Last night, 7/1/06, was a fine, fun and rollicking EGO night!

The night started earlier in the day, with a group visit to the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House on Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan.

The heat was hot and the grounds were ... splendid! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable (and strict - Bill was the object of most of his admonitions - "Please stay off the carpet!")

Unfortunately, photography within the buildings was verboten, but outdoors, it was allowed, for which I was grateful. The lakeshore property is beautiful, and the grounds are vast (a shuttle ran from the portcullis and parking garage to the house). The swimming pool was picturesque, draining into rock sculptures and natural pool areas, the squash court building made me want to play, the play house was cute (a 500 sq. foot home built to 1/2-3/4 scale for Josephine as a seventh birthday present).

And being there with the EGOist's was a treat. Time permitting, I'll need to put a photo page up on the EGO website.

After the return to Peter's house, we were treated to cookout (fancy sausages and dogs on fresh baked rolls, beans, slaw and more!).

(Oh, don't let me forget to properly credit him: Richard brought the ice cream. OK, you had to be there to understand that one...)

Peter's yard has the best rope-swing on his tree, as Amy, Carrie, Eric and I now know. (But watch yourself climbing that tree, Eric! Ouch!)

The conversation was lively, perhaps more so than usual, with a new attendee who had relatively little experience with Objectivist philosophy (but plenty of questions!).

Fireworks were planned (pyrotechnics, not intellectual - we always have intellectual fireworks!) but beforehand, our gracious host treated us to a piano recital, as he has had acoustic treatments installed in his piano room and was determined (heh heh) to share his living room's newfound audio brilliance with us.

He played a couple piano pieces, then paused so those who were leaving to see the local municipal fireworks display could leave - but no one did. Peter continued with several additional pieces, two of which were dedications, one to Eric, the other to Amy.

(Peter's piano is a wonderful thing. Dave and I both noodled around after Peter's performance. It's the kind of piano with which you can, and I do, get lost in reverie!)

As always, there was more than I could fit in a weblog update - Amy was lovely, lively, and gorgeous, Peter was at his intellectual (and artistic) best, Bob (who saved the grill!) and Eric were feisty, just like we like them, Bill and Joanne, as always, added to the liveliness and merriment, Dave, as always the perfect gentleman, helped engage newcomer Richard in a welcoming way, Carrie was a special treat to have with us (so glad you came!), and Elaine was her usual exquisite and gracious self.

How delightful to spend an evening where all the men are bold, all the women are beautiful, and everyone was intellectually delicious. You don't get that every day.

Hooray! Diana is back!

Amy and the Redford Civic Symphony kick off Summer Concerts in The Park

Hooray!

Amy's at

it again!

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You play

that sax, lady!

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Tuesday's concert was

the last event of

the 2005-06 season ...

.

... so if you missed

seeing her, you'll have

to wait for the new season

to start in the fall.

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I am proud of you!

Name That Cuteness!

OK...

Today's entry asks the question:

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What is this?

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(You can click the pictures for a bigger view)

.

.

Since I know relatively

little about wild animals,
I'm not sure, but it looks
like a beaver to me.

.

.

.

.

.

Either way, he (she?)'s

awfully cute.

He hangs out near
the office's of my primary
client site in Wixom, MI.

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

UPDATE! MYSTERY SOLVED!

.

Hint - it's a little too late for one of them to six more weeks of winter by seeing his shadow!

.

I dont know why I never guessed . . . since this is such a fun favorite of mine! I only thought about it when one of my peers at work reported that one of our remote client locations lost network (and telephone) service when one of these guys ate through the underground cabling between the site's buildings!

June Updates - Part 6 - ARI in Michigan

On June 12th, 2006, the Ayn Rand Institute brought their "State of ARI" Presentation to Southfield, Michigan.

The talk was given by director by Dr. Yaron Brook, who gave an exciting presentation, and answered lots and lots of questions.

Most surprising was his discussion of just how successful the current programs of the Institute have been, and how bright the future looks.

Besides the majority of the core EGO Group regulars, several people who I haven't seen in years showed up! Also in attendence was head honcho Andrew from The University Of Michigan Students of Objectivism, and we met some folks we've never met before, including Chris and Carrie!

Afterward, Amy and I, and Chris, Carrie, Andrew and Steve went out in search of a restaurant (it took several tries to find one that was open) and stayed out too late for a school night. Fun!

June Updates - Part 5 - 2006 SE Mich FDP Jam II

Misc updates - the 2006 Southeast Michigan Fender Discussion Page Jam II was a good time. Like the 2006 Jam I, it was held at Corktown Tavern. More info here and here. Special thanks to organizer Smokin'Pickin' Doug, and bandmates Rob, Jeff and Drew.

Diana is visiting my parents (her grandparents) and of course Trixie the poochness one, in Florida.

I miss her, but the weather's been so beautiful this weekend that I'm not too jealous that she's in Florida!

This Tuesday, Amy performs at the last Redford Civic Symphony event of the 2005-2006 season, at Capitol Park - be there! (Or you'll have to wait for my report!)

June Updates - Part 4 - Hewlett-Packard Laserjet 8150

Oh, before I forget, if you own a Hewlett-Packard Laserjet 8150, an excellent high volume laser printer, and you get random errors including fuser warnings (and your fuser's tests out OK), check the power supply PCB #2 for burnt-out solder at the middle pin (drain) of the power FET.

Easy solder job - but use good quality solder, and keep it smooth, it's a rare, but known trouble spot.

Just thought you should know.

June Updates - Part 3 - the EGO Surprise Impromptu June Karaoke Party

Just a bit more on the EGO Surprise Impromptu June Karaoke Party - Eric hosted a karaoke get-together, scheduled more-or-less at the last minute, when the plans for the July EGO meetings got switched around (EGOists Note: the first July meet is at Peter's, then the second's at Eric's).

Eric was determined to have folks over to see his beautiful remodelling, hardwood flooring, new paint, and more.

Wanting to celebrate before his charming & lovely guest Lulu headed back to Mexico on Sunday, it was decided (three days beforehand) to have a karaoke party Saturday night. Word went out quick over the super-secret and efficient EGO communication channels.

As karaoke goes, this was a good one!

Eric ordered salads & pizza for all, and Amy and I brought ingredients to make sangria (white zinfandel, brandy, ginger ale, and fresh citrus & other fruits) as well as the karaoke equipment.

Unlike some karaoke events, everybody got up and sang at some point - hooray! The singing was the best ever, and the dancing - oh, my! It was so much fun, I don't know if we'll wait until the annual EGO Halloween Karaoke Party to do it again.

(Speaking of EGO hosts - thanks again to Eric, Dave and Peter, who've all been hosting EGO meetings and have all been very generous, inviting us all into their homes, and feeding us as well. Amy and I did this a few years ago, while Eric was living in Germany, and it was great fun - but is also quite an effort, and so I can't repeat often enough that it's really appreciated!)

June Updates - Part 2 - June is the month for romance!

June is the month for romance! (Who'd a' thought? Well, if you'd been at the EGO Surprise Impromptu June Karaoke Party last night, you'd'a seen some of it for yourself!)

People just seem to be falling in love. You lovers out there, you know who you are.

Nature's been busy making lovers, too. The gooses around my office are bringing up their kids. Funny, they were just little puffs of feathers in April!

(Geese are properly referred to as gooses when they are especially cute.)

There's also a very silly beaver who keeps waddling around there. Michigan can be a funny place.

I haven't formulated an explanation for why geese, and ducks, and bunnies, and even beavers, make me happy. But they do.

Dahly Bun is, as usual, sweetness - except that she's been a bit demanding lately, and it's got her biting (well, OK, nipping) when she wants attention. So to train her, we're giving her punishment/reward/distraction therapy, which includes picking her up more often.

She (usually but not always) hates that!

June Updates - Part 1 - Diana's an Adult!

Wow - since the last update, Diana attended her high school prom, turned 18, and attended her graduation ceremony - many proud moments!

She chose a lovely prom dress, and even let her mother & I take lots of photographs, before taking my camera to the prom with her. She was beautiful! (Later that weekend, she'd be receiving a digital camera of her own for her birthday.)

The birthday party was, by her choice, at the Westland Civic Center park, a tradition for the family, as her birthday's right at the unofficial start of spring (and this year fell right on Memorial Day). Diana was gracious and charming as usual, and a good time was had by all.

And her graduation was quite a ceremony - she looked so sharp in her cap & gown. I think her ceremony was much more interesting than mine was ... but I guess that was 25 years ago, so it may my recollection may be a bit hazy!

I'm so proud of her!