I recently installed two ceiling fans, one each of the boys' rooms. The first went fairly well, but the second one was hard fought. The original housing builder had stripped the threads of one of the electrical box screws and removing and later replacing that screw proved to be a job. And, of course, I had the obligatory wiring issues... In any event, it was a big event in my kids' lives because their poor Dad was up an 8' ladder trying his best to not curse.

So, now, when we turn on the fan and lights in my youngest son's room, he calls it the "Daddy Light." When he goes to sleep, he says, "bye bye Daddy light."

That's the cutest thing I've heard in a long while. It makes me proud.

Wow...what a fast and furious 15 days!

We did get FiOS at the house. We now have digital cable (which broke MikeVO...bah), new phone service with free domestic long distance (yeah!), and high-speed Internet (15Mbps down/2 Mbps up!).

But...geez...my Linux server died. Here's a short summary: OS file corruption, graphics card died, monitor is bad, couldn't load new OS due to bad CD-ROM drive, and a bad CPU fan. Gah!

Of course, FiOS prevents inbound port 80, so I had to make a few changes. We'll have to send out an email with the correct URLs. It's a bit of vodoo, so use the URL and let the Internet magic redirect you.

FiOS is coming! FiOS is coming!

Today, the Verizon tech is due to arrive to install fiber optics to my home. My new Internet speeds should be really fast - 15Mbps down and 2Mbps up!

Let's see if you can still read this blog tomorrow, though. I think they block inbound web traffic.

I've recently purchased a new digital SLR, an Olympus E-510, camera. It's one sweet camera!

I've been reading and re-reading the manual. It's a good thing I've an electrical engineer degree! This thing has more knobs and settings than you can probably imagine. But, I'm getting the hang of it...slowly.

My sister's getting married today, so I plan on taking more photos at the reception. The ones from last night's rehearsal dinner really came out nicely. But, I'm still not doing well with the night shots. I have to figure out those multitude of settings.

If you're privy to our family's gallery site, keep an eye there. I'll try to post some there. Be warned, though, those files are big.

I recently listened to a Diane Rehm show in which she interviewed Kevin Phillips about his book, "Bad Money.".

This is a must listen! With over 30 years of financial reporting and with experience as a former White House Strategist, he describes how the Amerian economy is in deep trouble - Depression era trouble.

His frank analysis of the current American political system and their inability to address this dire issue is also refreshing...and scary.

Seriously, go listen.

My cheeky 5.5 year-old is playing with large Legos tonight and building a ship. Winnie the Pooh is the captain. He turns to me and asks, "Who will drive the ship?" I replied, "Get Tigger." He looks around for the Lego Tigger and can't find him. I notice and say, "You can't find Tigger? Use someone else." He turns me to me and says, "It's okay. I'll Tigger it out."

That's my boy.

Each night, I read to my eldest son a daily devotion. A few days ago, it was from Numbers 22:

?21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road. ?24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he beat her again. ?26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?" ?29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now." ?30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No," he said. 31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

Later on, I was relating the story to my wife. And, I finished with my interpretation, "And that's where the expression 'talking out your Ass' came from."

This is why I don't teach Sunday School.

My wife and I just celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary with a bit of help from one of my co-workers. My Dallas set of parents had some health issues and couldn't keep the kids, but my co-worker and his wife graciously agreed to come by and stay with the kids for a few hours so that my wife and I could at least get out of the house alone.

We didn't have time nor the plans for a movie, so we decided to go shopping. I now know that the 10th Anniversary is apparently Corning Ware. There's a store in the 5th Circle of Hell, I mean, the Grapevine Mills Mall, that was having a 25% off sale and THEN buy one and get one free. We couldn't pass it up. So, we now have a nice looking, brand new set of dishes.

I think it would've been cheaper to hire a babysitter and see a movie (but perhaps barely. Heh.)

Assuming that John McCain and Barack Obama are the presumptive nominees for their parties, I would hope that each would run a clean campaign on issues. I like both candidates. I think both are filled with hope and a positive message. I would love to see a campaign on substantive issues. If this were true, I think that a fiscally conservative candidate would easily win over a more socialist candidate.

That said, I don't think we'll see any of this. I think that as we draw closer to November, we'll see more 'swift boating' on both sides. I also think that, probably, the GOP will have more negative ads than the Democrats, judging by past elections.

And, as long as I?m in a predicative mood, let me gander into my Crystal Attack Ball and give you a few negative ?concerns? that will be played up about Obama. First, the fact that he doesn?t wear a flag pin will be spun as making him unpatriotic. Secondly, the real estate deal where the paid less than market price for the land next to his house will come up more than once. Thirdly, more rumors about him secretly being a Muslim will surface (despite his 30 years as a Christian). And, lastly, his associations with some folks that are anti-Semitic will be played up as him hating Jews.

I do hope I?m wrong, but I think these ?concerns? by 507 groups will come up and probably more nasty ones. Enjoy the election season!

Some of you might have heard of Alabama's Democratic governor being unfairly prosecuted of bribery. Well, it now seems that there was a 'technical glitch' in Alabama when 60 minutes tried to air the story.

I can't believe that such things actually happen in the USA, but since we're in our downhill slide as a nation, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. My workmate says that this is God's judgement being passed on the US. I fear he's correct.

I have hopes on our next President stopping the slide, but part of me thinks that most Americans won't even care enough to vote.