"Love begins at home."
Mother Teresa
Speech on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize,
Oslo, Norway, December 11th 1979
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Christmas 2006 @ Mom and Dads
Christmas 2006 @ Mom and Dads
Originally uploaded by carignan.
My big sister, Kim and Izzy at Kim's house.
Christmas 2006 @ Mom and Dads
Christmas 2006 @ Mom and Dads
Originally uploaded by carignan.
Arcata, CA Town Square, the day after Christmas with my sister and her family.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Expressing myself
Sometimes I write down things that don't really express what I'm thinking about deep down inside. I don't really have many people I can can talk to about what is on my mind. I can talk to my father. He told me he used to worry alot about me when I was younger. Things where very tough for me for alongtime. I was trying to be someone that I really wasn't. I still try to be that person sometimes. It's a hard habbit to break. My past wasn't for me. I think I was always trying to prove something about myself. I'd like to free from my past and just be true to myself. I guess that's what I want to do this New Year.
Friday, December 29, 2006
The trip up
We got started right on time. Our new 2007 Honda Odyssey Minivan ran great the entire way up and had lots of room. It was extremely comfortable and had some real power. We took #395 up to Kramer Juction and then over to Bakersfield. It didn't start getting light until we got almost to the #5. That's when the fog and traffic hit. It was stop and go all the way to Livermore. We stopped for a lunch in Livermore and poor Debbie's stomach was killing her, she didn't eat a thing.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Off on vacation
Saturday morning at 4:00 AM, we are off on vacation for a few days to see my parents in Humboldt County. It'll be nice to have everyone see Izzy for the first time. I am of course worried about my little dogs, Coco and Candy. They are very important to me, but Jason, a neighbor and friend is going to look after them. He knows how important they are to me. I don't do holidays very well and it's tough seeing my parents grow old. The trip itself is tough, thirteen plus hours on the road and my lack of feeling good about my routine being changed. I'll deal with it. It's been a rough past few months with Debbie in a cast and unable to do alot around the house. But I guess it's helped me grow in a way. Maybe it's just Gods way of checking to see if I'm ready for another child. I'd like to get another little baby for Izzy to have a sister or brother. I don't want her to grow up without a sibling. Even though we fought amoung one another, I love my sisters very much and really would be lost without them. I think my father is really going to fall in love with Izzy just like I have. I still haven't packed, so enough of this I need to gt to work. I hope everyone has a nice Christmas and when I get back you can check my Flickr for pictures of my trip.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Marlas in Beaumont, CA
Beaumont, CA Kiwanis Christmas Dinner
Originally uploaded by carignan.
The place we have our weekly Kiwanis meeting.
Motorola Q
Motorola Q
Originally uploaded by Paul Stamatiou.
How come I just don't get why it just blows so badly, when it looks so good. I wish I had a Blackberry Pearl or Treo 700P.
Wondering
I've wondered for along time if I was just blogging to myself or if I actually had people who visited. I even thought about paying for a more expensive website host that would provide statistics. Today I checked my Google Analytics account and saw that I had a visitor from Colorado. Thanks Tim for checking.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
About Kiwanis, I'm also a member.
The six permanent Objects of Kiwanis International were approved by Kiwanis club delegates at the 1924 Convention in Denver, Colorado. Through the succeeding decades, they have remained unchanged.
To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.
To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards.
To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.
To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.
To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and goodwill.
To give primacy to the human and spiritual rather than to the material values of life.
To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards.
To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.
To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.
To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism which make possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and goodwill.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Why I'm a member of the Optimist Club in Beaumont.
The Optimist Creed
Promise Yourself-
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
Promise Yourself-
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
Jott
Great for leaving notes to myself from my Cell Phone. The notes get converted to text from voice and then emailed to me. Fantastic product!
Google Analytics
Google Analytics tells you everything you want to know about how your visitors found you and how they interact with your site. Just added to this blog.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Christmas
I haven't found any sense of Christmas this year. I guess I just haven't had the time to rest and enjoy things or even think much about it. Just buy the gifts and be done. Boring actually and not much fun. Debbie usually helps me along during the holidays but she's not doing to well with her broken arm. So I struggle alittle more this year then last.
Staying up thinking
I just don't feel like going to sleep. I just keep thinking about this and that. Nothing important just thoughts that run in and out of my head. Maybe it's bad to have some much information so easy to get to. You have a question and bing get the answer and it's easy.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
December 17th 2006 Morning Snow
December 17th 2006 Morning Snow
Originally uploaded by carignan.
Last night it snowed in the mountains. It looks nice, but I still would like tosee it in the front yard so Izzy could play in it.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Izzy "December 16th 2006" Sick Baby
Izzy Britty "December 16th 2006" Sick Babies
Originally uploaded by carignan.
Sleeping with Mommy on the couch.
The Sickness
Everyone is sick today. No church, no nothing. Just taking it easy and trying to get well. Izzy is getting better, but still has been sleeping all day. That poor little girl. Britty is feeling really bad and has been on the couch all day. Lucky me I'm doing fine.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Stupid meetings drive me nuts
Stupid meetings drive me nuts
Originally uploaded by carignan.
Taken with Ryan's Blackberry Pearl. Tom and I in a meeting. Both of us are unhappy and bored with the waste of time.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Ryan and his Cingular Blackberry Pearl
Ryan and his Cingular Blackberry Pearl
Originally uploaded by carignan.
Ryan and his Gay Blackberry Pearl. But then my Motorola Q sucks ass bigtime.
Britty playing the handbells
Britty playing the handbells
Originally uploaded by carignan.
At the Calimesa SDA Church her school Mesa Grande SDA Academy at the 2006 Christmas concert.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Going to the German Deli
Today we are going to the German Deli in Calimesa for Brötchen, Pfeffernüße, and an Adventskalender for Izzy. I love the smell inside, it reminds me of my childhood.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
Why?
Sometimes I just want to be a hero and recognized for that. It sounds silly and self centered. I'm just too normal, that makes me sad.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Flex Day Lunch
Flex Day Lunch
Originally uploaded by carignan.
Sushi for Ryan and I! Now that's what Flex Day is all about.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Slowly going down
I'm slowly getting dragged down. I need to get my Christmas shopping done. I want some Ramen, Sushi, and Gyoza. I want to slow done and just relax for a day. I have too much to do and no time to get it done.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Friday, December 01, 2006
December
This month is stacking up to be extremely busy for me. It looks like I won't be able to get much rest until after the new year. All my weekends are booked up with things that I just have to do. We'll be going to my parents for the holidays, and I am looking foreword to that. My father will get to see Izzy for the first time, and I'm sure he's going to fall in love with her, just as I have. She is everything that I could have hoped for and more. I can't imagine being without my baby. She melts my heart.
Feeling unstable
Things just feel so unstable the last few weeks. I just can't seem to get much enjoyment from life. I'm always in a rush and nothing seems to make me happy. All work and no play makes me irritable and depressed.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Warren Buffett: Clear thinking leads to clear words
“Be a nice person…It’s so simple that it’s almost too obvious to notice. Look around at the people you like. Isn’t it a logical assumption that if you like traits in other people, then other people would like you if you developed those same traits?”
Saturday, November 25, 2006
What a mess
Lonnie is coming over to create a mess in the kitchen. Will this crap end and let me get my house straighten up.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Just managing to get by today
Nothing much else is happening. I sure haven't been all that happy lately. Too much work and it seems like I'm always busy.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Thanksgiving
I haven't had a day to be thankful for. I should have worked harder at it. But maybe I'm just being too melancholy. That happens around the holidays for me.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
Birthday Girl
It's Brittanys Birthday today, Sweet 16. We had a nice dinner and BJ's and then went to Costco to pickup her present.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
My School today
Mountain lion sighting causes campus lockdown
Moreno Valley -- Palm Middle School is on lockdown as animal control officers search for a mountain lion spotted today on and around the campus, according to Moreno Valley Unified spokesman Scott Johnson.
No injuries have been reported.
Posted by PE.com at 11:52 AM
It was funny, and yes I sent out my kids to scout the area.
Moreno Valley -- Palm Middle School is on lockdown as animal control officers search for a mountain lion spotted today on and around the campus, according to Moreno Valley Unified spokesman Scott Johnson.
No injuries have been reported.
Posted by PE.com at 11:52 AM
It was funny, and yes I sent out my kids to scout the area.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Feeling Better
These last two days I've felt much more rested. I think I'm getting into the hang of this. It's still really busy, but I'm getting better at dealing with the rush.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Just another day.
It just seems like I've been working too hard and not getting much done. I've been trying to get to sleep early but I feel tired all the time. I'm looking foreword to some time off and rest. I won't get it this weekend, it's Brittanys birthday, and I'm sure we'll have company all weekend long. I'll be taking some long walks with Izzy to get away and that's always nice.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Worn Out
It seems like another day that Izzy just keeps rolling without a nap. I'm just getting worn out. Britty is sick and throwing up. I hope I stay healthy.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
A very busy little girl!
I didn't get a minute to rest today. Izzy was going strong all day long. On top of everything it just seemed like Britty had an attitude all day. I just dealt with everything the best I could and survived. Now I'm going to sleep.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
It's a much better day
I feel more rested and better prepared to deal with whatever happens. I think I just needed some sleep and rest.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
It's my Birthday and my Mom's Birthday
Yes, I was born on my Mother's birthday. It's been chaos at the house today, too much crap and not enough time. I did get a new Digital SLR, Cannon Rebel XTI, and a Photo Printer, an HP 475. Happy Birthday to me.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Nap
Taken from 43 Folders.
A good nap is one of life’s great pleasures, and the ability to nap is the sign of a well-balanced life. When we nap we snatch back control of our day from a mechanized, clock-driven society. We set aside the urgency imposed on us by the external world and get in touch with an internal rhythm that is millions of years old.
A nap distills the sweetness of a whole night’s sleep down to a few minutes. Ideally, it starts on a soft bed, in a dark room, with a warm blanket. At first your mind lingers on what you’ve done that day, and what you still need to do. Then your thoughts start to unravel a little, become less coherent, more dreamlike. You feel your breathing deepen, your body relax. You lose yourself; you’re asleep. After a few minutes you gradually become aware again of the bed, the room. You open your eyes, gather your thoughts, throw off the blankets. You’re a new person.
A good nap is one of life’s great pleasures, and the ability to nap is the sign of a well-balanced life. When we nap we snatch back control of our day from a mechanized, clock-driven society. We set aside the urgency imposed on us by the external world and get in touch with an internal rhythm that is millions of years old.
A nap distills the sweetness of a whole night’s sleep down to a few minutes. Ideally, it starts on a soft bed, in a dark room, with a warm blanket. At first your mind lingers on what you’ve done that day, and what you still need to do. Then your thoughts start to unravel a little, become less coherent, more dreamlike. You feel your breathing deepen, your body relax. You lose yourself; you’re asleep. After a few minutes you gradually become aware again of the bed, the room. You open your eyes, gather your thoughts, throw off the blankets. You’re a new person.
Broken Arm
Debbie slipped and fell this Sabbath morning, Saturday for all you non Seventh Day Adventists
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Debbie, Izzy, my Mom and I
At the Fall Fair at Mesa Grande Seventh Day Adventist Academy on October 29th, 2006.
Izzy and Aubrey Trick or Treating 2006
Today was a great day. Our final court hearing for the adoption was held and Izzy is ours forever. We still need to change her last name and some other stuff, but it's done. She went out for her first Trick or Treating with two of our neighbors girls, Aubrey and Kimmie. I walked along and it was so nice to see my baby having fun. Izzy was Tux, the Linux penguin. She had an Open Source Halloween.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Our new Mini Van, 2007 Honda Odyssey
It is loaded with GPS, DVD, XM Radio, Leather seats, and the list goes on. A really nice van for Debbie to drive. I'll stick with my Toyota Tundra.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Some Good News
We bought a new Mini Van for Debbie. Her old van had just had enough and needed to be replaced. We bought a new 2007 Honda Odyssey. It's a very nice Ocean Spray Blue. Whatever that means. We got a pretty good deal in Riverside. Damm, I sure hate speeding money though.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Disappointed
On the 17th we had a court hearing to determine if Izzy's parents rights would be severed by the court. It was continued at the request of the father's attorney. So in two weeks, on the 31st of October, we'll know more. I really think he's going to try and take her away from us and have a family member take her, or maybe even try to take her himself. I just can't stand to think about her being taken from us although, I know it's a possibility. It makes me want to cry, when I think about how much she means to all of us. I know this has never been a sure thing, but everyone told us it was a done deal and not to worry. I've invested so much of myself into this, and having her pulled away from our family is going to be just devastating. Debbie and Britty are both going to take it hard, and I really worry about them both. I know I'll survive and continue but it's going to be painful. This adoption process has already taken along time and we've already had two children taken from us before. I'm not sure Debbie is going to want to continue. I really want to keep Izzy. She's my little girl.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Monday, October 16, 2006
Interesting story in the news
Texas Students Taught to Fight if Gunman Enters Class
By JEFF CARLTON, AP
BURLESON, Texas (Oct. 14) - Youngsters in a suburban Fort Worth school
district are being taught not to sit there like good boys and girls with
their hands folded if a gunman invades the classroom, but to rush him
and hit him with everything they got - books, pencils, legs and arms.
"Getting under desks and praying for rescue from professionals is not a
recipe for success," said Robin Browne, a major in the British Army
reserve and an instructor for Response Options, the company providing
the training to the Burleson schools.
That kind of fight-back advice is all but unheard of among schools, and
some fear it will get children killed.
But school officials in Burleson said they are drawing on the lessons
learned from a string of disasters such as Columbine in 1999 and the
Amish schoolhouse attack in Pennsylvania last week.
The school system in this working-class suburb of about 26,000 is
believed to be the first in America to train all its teachers and
students to fight back, Browne said.
At Burleson - which has 10 schools and about 8,500 students - the
training covers various emergencies, such as tornadoes, fires and
situations where first aid is required. Among the lessons: Use a belt as
a sling for broken bones, and shoelaces make good tourniquets.
Students are also instructed not to comply with a gunman's orders, and
to take him down.
Browne recommends students and teachers "react immediately to the sight
of a gun by picking up anything and everything and throwing it at the
head and body of the attacker and making as much noise as possible. Go
toward him as fast as we can and bring them down."
Response Options trains students and teachers to "lock onto the
attacker's limbs and use their body weight," Browne said. Everyday
classroom objects, such as paperbacks and pencils, can become weapons.
"We show them they can win," he said. "The fact that someone walks into
a classroom with a gun does not make them a god. Five or six
seventh-grade kids and a 95-pound art teacher can basically challenge,
bring down and immobilize a 200-pound man with a gun."
The fight-back training parallels the change in thinking that has
occurred since Sept. 11, 2001, when United Flight 93 made it clear that
the usual advice during a hijacking - Don't try to be a hero, and no one
will get hurt - no longer holds. Flight attendants and passengers are
now encouraged to rush the cockpit.
Similarly, women and youngsters are often told by safety experts to
kick, scream and claw they way out during a rape attempt or a
child-snatching.
In 1998 in Oregon, a 17-year-old high school wrestling star with a
bullet in his chest stopped a rampage by tackling a teenager who had
opened fire in the cafeteria. The gunman killed two students, as well as
his parents, and 22 other were wounded.
Hilda Quiroz of the National School Safety Center, a nonprofit advocacy
group in California, said she knows of no other school system in the
country that is offering fight-back training, and found the strategy at
Burleson troubling.
"If kids are saved, then this is the most wonderful thing in the world.
If kids are killed, people are going to wonder who's to blame," she
said. "How much common sense will a student have in a time of panic?"
Terry Grisham, spokesman for the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department,
said he, too, had concerns, though he had not seen details of the
program.
"You're telling kids to do what a tactical officer is trained to do, and
they have a lot of guns and ballistic shields," he said. "If my school
was teaching that, I'd be upset, frankly."
Some students said they appreciate the training. "It's harder to hit a
moving target than a target that is standing still," said 14-year-old
Jessica Justice, who received the training over the summer during
freshman orientation at Burleson High.
William Lassiter, manager of the North Carolina-based Center for
Prevention of School Violence, said past attacks indicate that fighting
back, at least by teachers and staff, has its merits.
"At Columbine, teachers told students to get down and get on the floors,
and gunmen went around and shot people on the floors," Lassiter said. "I
know this sounds chaotic and I know it doesn't sound like a great
solution, but it's better than leaving them there to get shot."
Lassiter questioned, however, whether students should be included in the
fight-back training: "That's going to scare the you-know-what out of
them."
Most of the freshman class at Burleson's high school underwent
instruction during orientation, and eventually all Burleson students
will receive some training, even the elementary school children.
"We want them to know if Miss Valley says to run out of the room
screaming, that is exactly what they need to do," said Jeanie Gilbert,
district director of emergency management. She said students and
teachers should have "a fighting chance in every situation."
"It's terribly sad that when I get up in the morning that I have to
wonder what may happen today either in our area or in the nation,"
Gilbert said. "Something that happens in Pennsylvania has that ripple
effect across the country."
Burleson High Principal Paul Cash said he has received no complaints
from parents about the training. Stacy Vaughn, the president of the
Parent-Teacher Organization at Norwood Elementary in Burleson, supports
the program.
"I feel like our kids should be armed with the information that these
types of possibilities exist," Vaughn said.
By JEFF CARLTON, AP
BURLESON, Texas (Oct. 14) - Youngsters in a suburban Fort Worth school
district are being taught not to sit there like good boys and girls with
their hands folded if a gunman invades the classroom, but to rush him
and hit him with everything they got - books, pencils, legs and arms.
"Getting under desks and praying for rescue from professionals is not a
recipe for success," said Robin Browne, a major in the British Army
reserve and an instructor for Response Options, the company providing
the training to the Burleson schools.
That kind of fight-back advice is all but unheard of among schools, and
some fear it will get children killed.
But school officials in Burleson said they are drawing on the lessons
learned from a string of disasters such as Columbine in 1999 and the
Amish schoolhouse attack in Pennsylvania last week.
The school system in this working-class suburb of about 26,000 is
believed to be the first in America to train all its teachers and
students to fight back, Browne said.
At Burleson - which has 10 schools and about 8,500 students - the
training covers various emergencies, such as tornadoes, fires and
situations where first aid is required. Among the lessons: Use a belt as
a sling for broken bones, and shoelaces make good tourniquets.
Students are also instructed not to comply with a gunman's orders, and
to take him down.
Browne recommends students and teachers "react immediately to the sight
of a gun by picking up anything and everything and throwing it at the
head and body of the attacker and making as much noise as possible. Go
toward him as fast as we can and bring them down."
Response Options trains students and teachers to "lock onto the
attacker's limbs and use their body weight," Browne said. Everyday
classroom objects, such as paperbacks and pencils, can become weapons.
"We show them they can win," he said. "The fact that someone walks into
a classroom with a gun does not make them a god. Five or six
seventh-grade kids and a 95-pound art teacher can basically challenge,
bring down and immobilize a 200-pound man with a gun."
The fight-back training parallels the change in thinking that has
occurred since Sept. 11, 2001, when United Flight 93 made it clear that
the usual advice during a hijacking - Don't try to be a hero, and no one
will get hurt - no longer holds. Flight attendants and passengers are
now encouraged to rush the cockpit.
Similarly, women and youngsters are often told by safety experts to
kick, scream and claw they way out during a rape attempt or a
child-snatching.
In 1998 in Oregon, a 17-year-old high school wrestling star with a
bullet in his chest stopped a rampage by tackling a teenager who had
opened fire in the cafeteria. The gunman killed two students, as well as
his parents, and 22 other were wounded.
Hilda Quiroz of the National School Safety Center, a nonprofit advocacy
group in California, said she knows of no other school system in the
country that is offering fight-back training, and found the strategy at
Burleson troubling.
"If kids are saved, then this is the most wonderful thing in the world.
If kids are killed, people are going to wonder who's to blame," she
said. "How much common sense will a student have in a time of panic?"
Terry Grisham, spokesman for the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department,
said he, too, had concerns, though he had not seen details of the
program.
"You're telling kids to do what a tactical officer is trained to do, and
they have a lot of guns and ballistic shields," he said. "If my school
was teaching that, I'd be upset, frankly."
Some students said they appreciate the training. "It's harder to hit a
moving target than a target that is standing still," said 14-year-old
Jessica Justice, who received the training over the summer during
freshman orientation at Burleson High.
William Lassiter, manager of the North Carolina-based Center for
Prevention of School Violence, said past attacks indicate that fighting
back, at least by teachers and staff, has its merits.
"At Columbine, teachers told students to get down and get on the floors,
and gunmen went around and shot people on the floors," Lassiter said. "I
know this sounds chaotic and I know it doesn't sound like a great
solution, but it's better than leaving them there to get shot."
Lassiter questioned, however, whether students should be included in the
fight-back training: "That's going to scare the you-know-what out of
them."
Most of the freshman class at Burleson's high school underwent
instruction during orientation, and eventually all Burleson students
will receive some training, even the elementary school children.
"We want them to know if Miss Valley says to run out of the room
screaming, that is exactly what they need to do," said Jeanie Gilbert,
district director of emergency management. She said students and
teachers should have "a fighting chance in every situation."
"It's terribly sad that when I get up in the morning that I have to
wonder what may happen today either in our area or in the nation,"
Gilbert said. "Something that happens in Pennsylvania has that ripple
effect across the country."
Burleson High Principal Paul Cash said he has received no complaints
from parents about the training. Stacy Vaughn, the president of the
Parent-Teacher Organization at Norwood Elementary in Burleson, supports
the program.
"I feel like our kids should be armed with the information that these
types of possibilities exist," Vaughn said.
Worried
Tomorrow we find out, if Izzy is going to be ours forever. The judge is going to rule if her birth parents loose all rights to her. If they do, it is just a matter of time, before she is ours and she has my last name. If they keep Izzy, then it's over for us. Everyone has told us, it is a slam dunk case and not to worry. I really think it is a done deal, but in the back of my mind, I still worry.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
One of my tables in my office.
P-4 1.8ghz on the left running mostly IM and P2P, AMD 2.4 ghz in the center my primary workstation, and a Mac Mini 1.25 G4 for photos and music. All of the machines have one gig of RAM.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Dinner tonight @ Applebees
Izzy is such a little lover. She walked around the restaurant blowing kissing to everyone. We have alot of older people here in Beaumont, mostly from Sun Lakes, and they really got a kick out of her. I think it's important that she learns to be a loving person.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Izzy Carignan Oct. 7th 2006
She's so peaceful when she is sleeping and so loud when she's awake. I guess she takes after her Daddy.
Friday, October 06, 2006
My crying little baby.
Izzy isn't feeling well tonight. She has a fever and is crying. I feeel like crying too when my baby starts crying. I was told that I'll get over that after awhile, but that bothers me. I hope I don't ever feel that way. I love her so much.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Talking at Dinner
I was talking to a few friends at dinner tonight and I told them about how I felt last night. I guess the word that comes closest is how the whole "vibe" in the Inland Empire has changed. They all agreed and one of them mentioned just how busy it's gotten out here. I guess "busy" is a good word to describe the Inland Empire, just too damm busy. I joke about always being connected like a borg to the world and it's true. I'm Seventh Day Adventist and it's been said the a "good" Adventist is in the world just not part off the world. I guess sometimes I'd like that separation to be alittle more pronounced. It was Bonnie's Birthday tonight so we had cake and a few friends stopped by that I hadn't seen in awhile showed up.
I caught a kid today with a knife at school today. I guess that was the big excitement at work. It really wasn't a big deal for me. He did go crazy at the office and ran away. I left to go have dinner and I'll find out more in the morning.
I caught a kid today with a knife at school today. I guess that was the big excitement at work. It really wasn't a big deal for me. He did go crazy at the office and ran away. I left to go have dinner and I'll find out more in the morning.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Tonight
Driving home from Marla's tonight from my Kiwanis meeting, I was reminded about how Southern California used to feel. It wasn't so much how it looked, but just a feeling. With all the new construction, homes and people out here it sure doesn't feel like home most days. I grew up in the small town of Sunnymead, now Moreno Valley. It was a pretty small place. I remember sitting on an overpass looking down at the #60 freeway and waving to people. Riding my bike and running in the Orange groves. It's all gone now, nothing really remains of Sunnymead or the Southern California that I grew up in. The weather is still the same, alot of things are still the same, yet it's just not right, different. When I got home, I walked over to a friends to visit. We joked around for awhile, but I just felt like going for along walk. No where in particular just to walk and remember how it used to be. How I was so innocent to things in general. It's different for me now. It's like I know too much to go back. I've thought about moving away, but would it really be that much different some place else. I don't really know. What do you think? Can we regain some of our past and how.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Tough Day at work.
I'm feeling like I need some excitement. I'm getting bored lately nothing seems to interest me. Just chilling out with Izzy is cool, but I feel wild inside like a trip some place would be cool. Maybe too much time being single is still inside me. That's stupid. Does anyone else get the urge to go out and get crazy. They've always talked about Middle Aged Crazy. I hope it's not something stupid like that. That's a waste of my time and a pain in the ass.
Izzy went to Daycare again today and had a better day. There is this little girl that grabs her toys from her and knocks her down. Her name is Janelle. Izzy is cool with it and hasn't kicked her ass yet. It's actually better that she doesn't. Izzy packs a mean smack and knows how to use it. She came home and we played for awhile and I really like that.
Debbie is mulling over an offer from her current employer to keep her to stay. I think she ought too just tell them to get lost and go work for ESRI. I've heard nothing but good things about ESRI and everyone I know that works there is very happy.
Izzy went to Daycare again today and had a better day. There is this little girl that grabs her toys from her and knocks her down. Her name is Janelle. Izzy is cool with it and hasn't kicked her ass yet. It's actually better that she doesn't. Izzy packs a mean smack and knows how to use it. She came home and we played for awhile and I really like that.
Debbie is mulling over an offer from her current employer to keep her to stay. I think she ought too just tell them to get lost and go work for ESRI. I've heard nothing but good things about ESRI and everyone I know that works there is very happy.
Monday, October 02, 2006
It just seems so busy
My days are so busy it seems like I never get a chance to unwind, and the furthest thing from my mind is blogging. Izzy is doing great. When I look at her in the morning, before she wakes-up, it's just amazing to me that I have a daughter. She is such a little baby and so beautiful. I bet all parents feel that way. I've been told that there are no ugly babies. I really have to disagree. Some kids are just funny looking. I'm not sure that I would go so far to say that they are ugly, but they sure don't look good. I belong to Minti (a parenting social network) and I wonder if any parents think their baby is "funny" looking. Time will tell if Izzy turns out to be a good looking kid. But regardless, she'll always be my beautiful baby. She sure is taking a lot from me. She's loud as heck, loves to jabber and wave her arms around. I really like that. I actually encourage her to be loud and active. She's thinking and doing something, that's good. She had to go to Daycare today for the first time. It really bothered me that I had to do that to her. I wish I made more money as a teacher, but it's just not the case. Debbie has to work and Izzy has to go to a licensed daycare until she is fully adopted and it is final. Then we have a wonderful friend that is going to watch her. Britty is sick today and although she doesn't feel well, I know she likes her Mom's attention. I have to get ready for bed, I have an Optimist club meeting in the morning before work.
Friday, September 29, 2006
A long day
I slept in for once, by mistake. I didn't wake-up until 5:45 AM. That's late for me. I forgot to turn-on the alarm for 5:00 AM. I managed to get out of the house on time. More and more meetings today. It's a joke that the administration thinks we listen. I just sit and play on my smartphone.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
My little baby and why I volunteer.
I came home today and Izzy just went crazy. She loves her daddy. She smiles and yells for me. It's everything that I had hoped for. She's a wonderful baby.
I've been thinking about how I always feel like I need to pay back everyone for what I've been given. I'm involved in alot of community organizations and church. I wonder if anyone else feels so grateful that they always have the desire to payback?
I've been thinking about how I always feel like I need to pay back everyone for what I've been given. I'm involved in alot of community organizations and church. I wonder if anyone else feels so grateful that they always have the desire to payback?
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Amazon.com: No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog: Books: Margaret Mason
Amazon.com: No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog: Books: Margaret Mason
A link to the new book to help me with getting back into Blogging.
A link to the new book to help me with getting back into Blogging.
I'll try again!
I think I'm going to start blogging again. I've bought a book today at Barnes and Noble that will hopefully give me some ideas about what to write about.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
Lack of Posting!
I can't say I've even cared much to post much lately. Apathy is the reason that comes up in my head the quickest. I've been blogging for a few years now and I just don't care much about it any longer. My content sucks and what I thought was going to be fun has just died. I'm undecided if I'll continue. I have to think about it. My neighborhood site that I started died on the vine for a lack of participation by anyone other then myself. Alot of people signed up, but no one really made an effort at trying to build our community online. I tried for about a year and then gave up. Maybe it's time for me to move on also. I'm tired and going to sleep.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Schneier on Security
Schneier on Security Great site with interesting imformation for a guy that knows his stuff.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Linux on a Mac
Just my lastest box called BusyIzzy. Xubuntu Linux on an old iMac G3 400 with 512 RAM.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
Monday
Today was a nice day at work. I really needed one of those days. I've started the new school year off on the wrong foot. I need to be positive. Nancy said people listen to me, and when I'm not positive it affects others. I'm going to try real hard at bringing myself up this year. Izzy and Debbie came by to see my new kids. One of my students last year reminded me, that when I refer to them as my kids it means I'm having a good day, and when they are my students things are going bad. I want to always have kids not students in my classroom. On another note my yard looks better then anyone's yard on the street. It's looks wonderful and I just got done mowing the front today. I bbq'd some chicken for dinner and it was great. I'm getting to the point that I really think I grill very well. Steaks for Tuesday, I think! Britty had a tough day at school today, and Debbie had a rough day at home. I hope tomorrow is better for both of them. I think Tuesday is going to be a good day. I am taking my trunk in for service and Ryan is going to pick me up. That's if he doesn't forget. I have to remind him in the morning. I'd like to have some Starbucks in the morning with him, if we have the time. I'll even buy Ryan. If you read this tonight. I'm going to go read for awhile, and get to sleep early. I haven't been reading lately. I need to get back into the habit. I've also started listening to audio books on the way to work. I'm listening to Washington's Crossing. I'm on disc 11 of 15. It's a good book about our Revolutionary War.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Me Shopping!
Yesterday, Debbie, Izzy and I went shopping at the Cabazon Outlets. We got some really good deals on clothing for Izzy. At Carters, Oshkosh, and Baby Gap, we got 70% off. If is nice to dress her up in some nice outfits. She is so cute. After that we took her out to play in a small wading pool with Aubrey and Kimmie. I'll post a picture of Izzy in her bikini. I thought it was a crack up.
Friday, August 25, 2006
KidSmart Vocal Smoke Alarm: Parent Hacks
KidSmart Vocal Smoke Alarm: Parent Hacks
An interesting article about a kids fire alarm.
An interesting article about a kids fire alarm.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Busy Wednesday
It just seems like things are getting way to busy for me. I need to slow down and just not do a thing.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Candy Cane August 21st 2006 on Izzy's chair
Just candy relaxing like the little super Model that she is.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
Just tired
I need more sleep, I'm always feeling tired. Maybe it's having Izzy and the start of the new school year and going to classes myself.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The new kids.
They seem so low. I think this year I'm going to really work for my money. These kids aren't too bright. I have a lot of ELD kids and RSP kids. All packed into one class. Oh damn it's going to be a long year.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Frustration
I really hate starting out the new year with all these meetings. Nothing seems to get done and we all just sit like a bunch of slugs and listen to nonsense.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Back to school today
Well I'm back to school today. It was awful. I had meetings most of the morning and I just don't handle that very well. I find them mostly insulting. I can read most of the information given to us and understand it as well. I just have a hard time focusing and standing still that long. Maybe it's Adult ADHD. I have a my own classroom for the first time in three years. I moved from classroom to classroom every month for three years and now I have my own room. No more moving for awhile. I set most of my room up today. I still have things to do but it's almost done.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Sabbath
What a long day. I spent from 7:00 AM till 1:00 PM in church doing the presentation for both services. After church I went home and mowed, edged, weeded, and trimmed from 2:00 PM till about 5:00 PM. My yard does look perfect. I think I have the greenest grass on the street. It looks just perfect! After that I ordered a pizza and vacuumed the house. Debbie and Britty went over to see her parents and sister with Izzy. I just can't go over there, it's just to much of a mess. I don't think it's a safe house for Izzy, but they can't help themselves. It's just so much stuff. They came home quickly and I sat outside and read for awhile. I went to sleep early.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Nice day and Kiwanis
It was a great day and I went to my Kiwanis meeting tonight. I love spending my days with Izzy.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Izzy wasn't feeling well.
Today Izzy wasn't feeling well at all. Debbie thinks it's teething but regardless I hate to see her that way. She didn't nap at all today. I just tried to help her feel better. It must really hurt teething like that.
August 8th 2006 Banning California Black Bench Fire
A fire by my house today. It was controled quickly although Pete had to move his cattle away from the blaze. It is grazing land for some Long Horns.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Monday
I shouldn't say that nothing exciting happened today. Everyday I'm with Izzy, is pretty exciting. I think alot about how I am and what I am doing. It's important for me to be the best father I can be. We went for a couple of walks today and played. I've been cleaning the carpets in the house the last few days. They look alot better. I like my house looking good. I bbq'd some burgers tonight and after Izzy went to sleep, I went outside and chatted with some of the neighbors. I talked to my Mom and Dad yesterday and I feel pretty bad about them not seeing Izzy yet. That upsets me. I'd like my Dad most of all to see my baby. I think he'd really like that alot. I miss both my parents alot sometimes. They are having their 50th wedding anniversary soon. I can't go since I have the start of school that week and can't miss. I just feel disappointed and sad. I guess it's just something I have to get over. I'm looking foreward to tomorrow morning and spending another day with Izzy.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Getting tired
I sure am getting tird out by this little girl. I guess I'm just not able to do some things like someone younger. but then they aren't able to do somethings like I can. I'd rather be my age. Forty Five isn't so bad in fact it's pretty nice.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Friday has been worse!
Today went well in the morning. We woke-up had breakfast, went for a nice walk and went shopping. Izzy and I drove to Redlands and went to Gymboree for some play classes. It wasn't going to start for a few hours and I had a free pass so I decided to come back another day. We went to the Verizon store and bit the bullet and bought myself the Motorola Q pda/phone that I wanted. It's really cool and I'm enjoying all the features. I'll blog about that later. The vacuum cleaner took a dive at home so I stopped at Target and bought a new one. I do love to vacuum, when I feel stressed. I really don't know why, but I get that vacuum out and just go to town. Maybe I just wore the other one out. Then we went to Stater Brothers for some food for dinner. I'm going to some steaks. It was a good morning overall and Izzy is such a doll. Debbie got home and took Britty to get her permit at the DMV in Banning. Izzy was taking her nap so that's not a problem. I am getting tired of not being able to get alot of my work around the house done. Debbie and Britty always seem to be busy going places and I stay home with Izzy. It kinda makes me feel mad. Izzy and I aren't with them much. I need to talk to Debbie about that. Izzy and I had an appointment at the WIC office in Banning to get some services for her, if she needs them. Free food is what it comes down to. Our Social Worker told us to get this, too off set the cost of taking Izzy. I guess because her natural parents don't support her, we get some help. Britty passed her test at the DMV, so she needs 6 hours of lesson behind the whell and she'll have her permitt. Debbie was taking Britty to a pitching lesson but the WIC worker needed Debbie. So Debbie and Britty had to come over to the WIC office in Banning. The appointment took longer then we thought so we decided to go to the new Applebees in Beaumont. It had just opened a week ago and I was suprised we got seated right away. It was nice to have dinner, although I felt angry and resentful at Debbie and Britty. It's something I need to talk over with Debbie.
Busy Thursday
This morning, Izzy let us sleep in. She didn't get up until 7:00 PM. That's late for her. I took Britty to Softball practice and had to catch for her. I'm not very good, but I've never had an interest in sports. Debbie had to take Coco to the Vet with Izzy. I don't know how she did that, put she said Coco was a good boy. He has elevated Liver levels and that's what caused Chili's death. I'm pretty worried, I don't want to loose him too. I tried to get my homework done but just couldn't. Debbie went and got her hair done at noon alone leaving Britty crying in her room. She'd just pushed it too far with an attitude and so she was left home with Izzy and I. I left her alone, but I'm really getting tired of her attitude and disrespect. On well, I guess it's just something that all teenagers have and I'll deal with it. Debbie took Britty to something else and caved in getting Britty's hair done also. Jeff, our Social Worker stopped by to check up on everything and it went well. Then off to school and another mind numbing night of boredom.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Interruptions
Last night our sleep was interrupted by Izzy crying at midnight. Debbie couldn't settle her down and I just waited until she gave up. She finally asked me to try and what do you know, Daddy got her to sleep right away. I guess she's just my little girl. I think it's just that I spend more time with her then anyone else. This morning was her first doctors visit. She has gained 2 pounds in he last two weeks. With all that she's been eating, that's not a surprise. She is 18 almost 19 pounds. She looks small, but then I'm not used to little babies yet. She really didn't like the Nurse at all and she had to have a shot and that really made her cry. We came home and went for our morning walk and them had breakfast. After that we played. I'm having a much better day with her. We are just going to play this morning. Lunch went fine and then she went down for a nap. I had my Kiwanis meeting at Marla's tonight and it was nice. I don't think I'm going to be as involved as I have been in the past. I just can't get myself to leave Izzy much yet. It upset me that when I got home she was already asleep. I looked at her as she was sleeping and thought about how much I love her. Britty is having a tough time having a new sister and adjusting to the fact that she not the only child. She plays too rough with Izzy and has had to be told to play nice, that and she's no longer her mothers center on attention. I hope she feels better. I'll try to spend some time with her, but that's not what she wants.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Rough day with Izzy
I tried to do too much with her around today. I should slowed down more and just enjoyed being with her. I forget, and fell back into being rushed and driven to accomplish things. With her, I just can't do that and enjoy her for who she is, my baby daughter. Tomorrow, I'm just going to enjoy Izzy. I want to be a good father and also just have a goodtime with her. I read an article on being a father and staying at home with your baby. It made me think about how some things are going to change. It will be for the better. She loves to go on walks in the morning. We walk around the block and always stop and say hello to Fred and his dog. She isn't afraid of dogs, but she's too rough with them. We had a nice breakfast together. That little girl can really eat. It's amazing how much she grubs. After that it was playtime. Then I got the bright idea that I really needed sometime to get some house work done, big mistake, I can't clean and pay attention to Izzy. She just gets into everything. She never stops moving. I got frustrated and even angry that I couldn't get the cleaning done. I finally just stopped and we went to Stater Brothers to get out of the house for a few minutes. I need to get out sometimes and just be around other people. Then more playtime and lunch. After lunch she went down for a nap, but not without a terrible fight. It was horrible putting her to sleep. It took about 30 minutes. She slept for two hours which isn't as long as usual. While she was napping I cleaned some of the carpets. Then everyone started getting home and I BBQ'd some chicken. I tried some new marinade, but I didn't like it much. I just waiting on an answer for my Verizon problem. We'll see if I get treat correctly. I'm exhausted and going to go to sleep. Izzy wears me out.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Sunday, July 30, 2006
A day away and why Verizon tried to cheat me!
Today, I had to run a few errands. I picked up my friend, Jack, and we went down to Colton PD to drop off some papers. It was cool we got to see the new Command Post and Armored Rescue Vehicle. Then we went to Red Robin in Redlands for lunch. We went to the Verizon store next and I was going to buy a Motorola Q to replace my LG VX600. I've had my LG for two years and after two years you qualify for $100 off a new phone. Online they are selling the Q for $199, but in the store it goes for $299 and they wouldn't move of the price. That was ok, although I was alittle pissed off. I'll order it online. Then off to Barnes and Noble just to buy a couple of magazines and waste sometime. It was nice to be out of the house with Jack, doing the grow-up thing. I'd been with Izzy all week long just hanging with her. I got a couple of zines and we went home. When I tried to order the phone online, they tried to screw me with the price. The site said that the phone was $199 but when I logged in and put it in my shopping cart it was $299. What the heck is that. It took my $100 off for renewing my contract but wouldn't give me the online price for the phone. I called customer service and started to get mad. I feel like I'm getting the run around and was told that I'd have to email the website customer support. I've researched the phone and have been waiting for the time that I'd get my phone. I'm thinking that they are going to try and screw me and I'm going to have to really get pissed off. Well enough of that, I just think it's wrong that they are doing that. I might go to Cingular or T-Mobile.
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