Saturday, April 30, 2005
2005 Baseball Game 7
Jack played in the seventh baseball game of the season. He had two hits: the first hit was over everyone's head into right field and the second was sharp single to the left side that he beat out. This was the first game that the kids started pitching; they pitched the last three innings of the game.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Kings versus Sonics Game #3
Lew Gasper, the Sutter Health CIO and his wife, and I were guests of Intel for game three of the western conference first round play-off game between the Kings and the Supersonics. I had an interesting conversation at half-time and the beginning of the third quarter with Doug Busch, Chief Technology Officer for Intel's Digital Health Group. The Kings beat the Sonics by a score of 116 to 104.
Lesson G: Colors
Sharon spent the afternoon as the Art Docent for Jack's first grade class. Lesson G taught the kids about primary and second colors on the color wheel.
The class looked at Broadway Boogie Woogie by Piet Mondrian and Tridem K [shown below] by Victor Vasarely and learned about the artists.
For their art project, the class painted a Mondrian style picture using primary colors and a Vasarely style picture suing primary and secondary colors.
The class looked at Broadway Boogie Woogie by Piet Mondrian and Tridem K [shown below] by Victor Vasarely and learned about the artists.
For their art project, the class painted a Mondrian style picture using primary colors and a Vasarely style picture suing primary and secondary colors.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
2005 Baseball Game 6
Jack played in his sixth baseball game of the season. He played behind the pitcher one inning and made two nice plays. He fielded one grounder and threw to home plate for the force out with bases loaded and fielded another grounder and chased down the runner coming home. He struggled at the plate: striking out in his first at-bat and being thrown out at first on a sharply hit ball to the right side in his second at-bat.
Monday, April 25, 2005
books, books, books
One of the people that I work with recently asked a series of questions about what people were reading.
What [book] has your attention? At a recent Sr. IT Ops meeting, the CIO mentioned Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith; I am currently reading this book.
What are your top 5 books? This answer would change depending on my mood. Off the top of my head, the list would include three biographies, one science fiction and a novel:
- The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris ;
- Lindbergh by Scott Berg;
- The Chief by David Nasaw;
- Great Sky River by Gregory Benford; and,
- For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ersnet Hemingway.
There is a list of some of my favorite science fiction books on Amazon.
What is on the nightstand right now? I typically keep a large pile of books so that when I finish something I can pick up something else right away. The stack currently includes:
- Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant (reportedly the best of the presidential autobiographies);
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (I bought it after Hunter S. Thompson died in February);
- 'Tis by Frank McCourt (sequel to Angela's Ashes);
- Reflex by Steven Gould (sequel to Jumper);
- The Phoenix Exultant by John C. Wright (sequel to an interesting science fiction novel called the Golden Age);
- Holy Blood, Holy Grail;
- Citizen Hughes by Michael Drosin;
- The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum;
- Antarctica by Kim Stanley Robinson;
- Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds;
- Lethe by Tricia Sullivan;
- Tom Clancy's Power Plays: Wild Card by Jerome Preisler;
- Across Realtime by Vernor Vinge; and,
- True Names and the Opening of the Cyberspace Frontier by Vernor Vinge.
What is the best book you’ve ever read? I can not pick just one book... There is a list of everything that I have read in the last ten plus years on-line.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Another Quiet Sunday
Jack and I went to mass at Good Shepherd, while she put her head down and worked most of the day on a couple of projects for her clients.
Bibby goes 1 for 16
All you need to know about the Kings loss last night to the Sonics is that Bibby was 1 for 16 from the field.
Blog's Second Birthday
This Blog is two year's old today. Although I continue to add entries from time before that date, the initial entry was Shopping Colleges and Kindergartens.
Back from Germany
I posted day fourteen of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. I flew back from Frankfort to Sacramento. I have also posted a gallery of a thumbnails of all the pictures from the trip.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Sharon's Uncle
Sharon, Jack and I took her parents and her uncle Jim (her mom's brother) and his wife Percy to dinner at Macaroni Grill.
Kings in 6
Last year I was convinced that the Kings were going to lose to Dallas in the first round of the play-offs. The Kings beat the Mavs in 5 and then took the Wolves to 7 before losing.
With so many injures for both the Sonics and the Kings, it is hard to predict this year's first round series. I am going to go with my heart, instead of my head; Kings in 6!
With so many injures for both the Sonics and the Kings, it is hard to predict this year's first round series. I am going to go with my heart, instead of my head; Kings in 6!
2005 Baseball Game 5
Jack played in his fifth game of the season in a steady rain. He made a great play at third base catching a fly ball and then throwing to first to double off the runner. In his only at-bat, he had a solid single. As it rained harder and the kids got soaked, the coaches called the game after two innings.
Rhine River Cruise
I posted day thirteen of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. I spent the afternoon on a Rhine River cruise from Mainz to Kobenz.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Southern Living plus ITIL
Sharon and Janie went to a Southern Living at HOME party at the home of one of the parents on Jack's baseball team.
I spent four plus days this week in an ITIL Service Desk, Incident Management and Problem Management Class. It started at noon on Monday and finished up about 1:30 p.m. on Friday.
I spent four plus days this week in an ITIL Service Desk, Incident Management and Problem Management Class. It started at noon on Monday and finished up about 1:30 p.m. on Friday.
Heidelberg, then to Mainz
I posted day twelve of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. I spent most of the day in Heidelberg and then traveled to Mainz.
ESPN Predictions 1st Round
ESPN Analyst's Prediction for Sonics versus Kings in Round One:
 Anthony |  Ford |  Hollinger |  Stein |  Walton |
 Sonics 4-3 | Sonics 4-3 | Sonics 4-2 | Sonics 4-2 | Sonics |
Status of Peja and Miller
Playoff status of Peja, Miller is unclear. The coach spoke of both players as if they were unlikely to play Saturday. The team submitted its playoff roster Thursday, and Miller and Stojakovic were on it. Kevin Martin and Erik Daniels, both rookies, were taken off the active list.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Sonics-Kings By the Numbers
To help shed some light on the Sonics playoff matchup with the Sacramento Kings, here's a look at how the teams match up in the Four Factors...
Sarah Lawrence College Pic #1
Morgan sent me these pictures from her trip to Sarah Lawrence College. It sounds like this is probably where she is going to go!
Here is a Google Map showing where the College is located. You can use the control on the left hand side of the map to zoom in and out.
Here is a Google Map showing where the College is located. You can use the control on the left hand side of the map to zoom in and out.
To Germany
I posted day eleven of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. I flew from Moscow to Frankfort and then took the train to Heidelberg.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Kings versus Suns
Larkin and I went to the last Kings regular season game of the year versus the Phoenix Suns. We saw the Kings beat the Suns by the score of 132 to 107. This was the King's highest scoring game of the year. Mike Bibby did not play for the Kings and Steve Nash did not play for the Suns.
Larkin and I have been seeing Kings games together for twenty years. I believe that this is the eighth or ninth year that we have been part of a very odd group that splits season tickets.
Larkin and I have been seeing Kings games together for twenty years. I believe that this is the eighth or ninth year that we have been part of a very odd group that splits season tickets.
My Search History
Google has introduced another new service called My Search History which keep tracks of your searches and where you went. You can use Google to search your search history!
Jackson gets OK
Jackson gets OK to play again - sacbee.com
Kings sparkplug Bobby Jackson, who hasn't played since Dec. 21 because of a torn left wrist ligament, was cleared by Dr. Bob Szabo for unrestricted activity.
Kings sparkplug Bobby Jackson, who hasn't played since Dec. 21 because of a torn left wrist ligament, was cleared by Dr. Bob Szabo for unrestricted activity.
Where did the screwdriver go?
I posted day ten of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. This included an eventful trip to Rob's work and moving a couch to their new third story apartment.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
2005 Baseball Game 4
Jack played in his fourth baseball game of the season. He struggled at the plate. He was called out on a checked swing third strike his first time up, fouled off about five pitches about striking out his second time up and got a solid single in his third at-bat.
Patriarch Pond
I posted day nine of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. Barb and I did a walking tour of the Patriarch Pond neighborhood and then toured the Pushkin Museum.
Monday, April 18, 2005
To New York
Morgan flew to New York with her mother for Admitted Student Day at Sarah Lawrence College. Lawrence College is located in Westchester County on the border of Bronxville and Yonkers—just 30 minutes north of midtown Manhattan. I believe that she will either end up going there or UC San Diego.
Moscow Kremlin
I posted day eight of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. Barb and I spent a big part of the day touring the Moscow Kremlin.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Quiet Sunday
After working to get the house and yard cleaned up over the last couple of weeks, we had a quiet Sunday. Sharon shopped for food for her parents. Jack spent the afternoon at a birthday party at Kings Skate Country for one of his classmates.
Sergiyev Posad
I posted day seven of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. Visually, this was one of the most impressive days on the trip! One of my favorite pictures from the trip is the view as you walked up to Sergiyev Posad.
Saturday, April 16, 2005
2005 SEAs Dinner and Auction
Sharon spent the afternoon serving as a wedding coordinator for another wedding at Good Shepherd.
We had a number of the parents from Jack's class over for drinks and hors d’oeuvres and then went to the St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton (SEAs) Dinner and Auction. This was the sixth year that they have held the event as a fundraiser for the school and the third year that we have gone. We sat with a group of parents from Jack's class: the Bowers, Sanbornes and Clancys.
We bid on a number of items during the live auction. Our table ending up buying a ride to school in a fire truck for our kids.
We had a number of the parents from Jack's class over for drinks and hors d’oeuvres and then went to the St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton (SEAs) Dinner and Auction. This was the sixth year that they have held the event as a fundraiser for the school and the third year that we have gone. We sat with a group of parents from Jack's class: the Bowers, Sanbornes and Clancys.
We bid on a number of items during the live auction. Our table ending up buying a ride to school in a fire truck for our kids.
Russian Arts and Crafts Market
I posted day six of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. We spent the bulk of the day going to a large Russian arts and crafts market outside of Moscow.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Baseball Game #3
Jack played in his third baseball game of the season. In the first two games of the season, they gave each kid five pitches and then let him hit off the tee. Tonight for the first time, they implemented a three strikes and your out rule. It is still coach pitched, but sometime during the second half of season the kids will start pitching. Jack had three solid hits in three at-bats.
Sharon serves as a wedding coordinator for Good Shepherd Church. She spent the afternoon working with the Priest and the wedding party at the rehearsal.
Sharon serves as a wedding coordinator for Good Shepherd Church. She spent the afternoon working with the Priest and the wedding party at the rehearsal.
Shopping and the Ballet
I posted day five of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. This day included a trip to the Bolshoi Theatre.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
From the Long Tail Blog
From the Long Tail Blog:
- Music sales in 2004 were down 21% from their peak in 1999;
- Television's audience share has fallen by a third since 1985;
- Radio listenership is at a 27-year low;
- Newspapers circulation peaked in 1987, and the decline is accelerating;
- Magazines circulation peaked in 2000 and is now back to 1994 levels; and,
- Book sales growth are lagging the economy as whole.
Red Square
I posted day four of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. This day included a visit to Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral.
Brad Miller's Health
Kings notes: - sacbee.com: Adelman said he doesn't believe center Brad Miller will be ready for the start of the playoffs on the weekend of April 23-24.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
First Full Day in Moscow
I posted day three of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. This was the first full day that I spent on ground in Moscow with the Nooters.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Baseball Game #2
Jack played in his second baseball game of the season. He made a couple of good plays in the field, but his hitting regressed a little. After making good contact during his first at-ball, he struggled in the next two times at the plate. When I asked him about the changes I noticed in his swing, he said he was using his Gary Sheffield swing!?!
first of 30 trip pictures
I posted day two of the journal from my trip to Russia and Germany in 1995. This includes the first two of 30 pictures.
Monday, April 11, 2005
More Yardwork
Working to get the yard ready for this weekend, I spent over an hour and a half after work planting alyssum, drawf zinnia and faced pansy in front of the backyard fountain.
Ten Years Ago Today
Ten years ago today, I started on a two week trip to Russia and Germany. I wrote a daily journal on the trip on an Apple Newton Message pad. Last year, as we were cleaning some closets, I came across the Newton and have been able to transfer the trip journal to our current desktop computer.
Over the next two weeks, I am going to publish the daily journals and about 30 pictures from the trip. The first day's entry is posted at Moscow Day 1.
Over the next two weeks, I am going to publish the daily journals and about 30 pictures from the trip. The first day's entry is posted at Moscow Day 1.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Yard work plus Birthday Party
We spent most of the day working to get the front and back yards in shape. We have invited all of the parents from Jack's class for drinks and hors d’oeuvres before the school's annual auction and dinner fund raiser next weekend; it will be interesting to see how many people show up...
Jack spent the afternoon at a birthday for one of his classmates.
Jack spent the afternoon at a birthday for one of his classmates.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Baseball and Dinner
While Sharon spent the afternoon serving as a wedding coordinator at Good Shepherd, Jack and I went to his first baseball game of the season. After playing t-ball in 2003 and rookie league in 2004, Jack is playing in the Single A in the Laguna Youth Baseball League this year.
In the three inning game, he hit the ball solidly twice and got on base. He also participated in making four of the nine outs. In the first inning, he played third base, fielded a grounder and got a force out at third. In the third inning, he played from the pitcher's mound. He made a force out at home for one out, threw to home for a second out, and threw to first for the third out.
When Sharon got home, we took off for Modesto. We went to dinner with Randy and Linda at Galletto Ristorante in downtown Modesto. Sharon and Randy met during their junior years in college. We had a nice dinner and a great evening and got home about midnight.
In the three inning game, he hit the ball solidly twice and got on base. He also participated in making four of the nine outs. In the first inning, he played third base, fielded a grounder and got a force out at third. In the third inning, he played from the pitcher's mound. He made a force out at home for one out, threw to home for a second out, and threw to first for the third out.
When Sharon got home, we took off for Modesto. We went to dinner with Randy and Linda at Galletto Ristorante in downtown Modesto. Sharon and Randy met during their junior years in college. We had a nice dinner and a great evening and got home about midnight.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Foster's Big Horn
Sharon serves as a wedding coordinator for Good Shepherd Church. She spent the afternoon working with the Priest and the wedding party at the rehearsal.
Afterwards, Sharon and Liz wandered through the delta to Rio Vista and went to dinner at Foster's Big Horn.
Afterwards, Sharon and Liz wandered through the delta to Rio Vista and went to dinner at Foster's Big Horn.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
6th of 7 at 7:57
I had another good lunchtime run. I averaged 8:38 per mile over 7 miles. I was particularly pleased with the split on the 6th mile; I ran a 7:57 pace.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Practice like the Kings 2005
For the second year in a row, Jack and I got a chance to attend a session called Practice like the Kings. Held at Acro Arena, three Kings players and one of the assistant coaches held a loose practice session with about 60 kids. The kids did dribbling, rebounding and shooting drills, stretched and got a tour of the locker room. Although Jack was younger than most of the kids at the session, he was able to hold his own in all of the drills.
Pete Carril ran the dribbling drill, Brian Skinner organized the rebounding drill, Kevin Martin did the shooting drill and Erik Daniels helped the kids stretch. Afterwards, they fed us dinner.
I was very impressed with Brian Skinner. He seemed like a great guy and was very good with the kids!
Pete Carril ran the dribbling drill, Brian Skinner organized the rebounding drill, Kevin Martin did the shooting drill and Erik Daniels helped the kids stretch. Afterwards, they fed us dinner.
I was very impressed with Brian Skinner. He seemed like a great guy and was very good with the kids!
extinction of CDs
I agree with Mark Cuban's blog post titled The countdown for the extinction of CDs is about to begin.
I essentially said the same thing about a year ago. When you have people like Sharon starting to use iPods and buy music on-line, I think that it is the beginning of the end for some of the traditional retail channels.
I essentially said the same thing about a year ago. When you have people like Sharon starting to use iPods and buy music on-line, I think that it is the beginning of the end for some of the traditional retail channels.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Microsoft to kill the BlackBerry?
I have previously said that I believe that the Microsoft CE iPAQs are dead. After more than fifteen months, I continue to carry and use the Nextel Blackberry. The only other "gadget" that I used for longer is the Apple Newton Messagepad that I carried for almost five years.
It appears that Microsoft is starting to take aim at Blackberries with smart phones:
Microsoft wants to kill the BlackBerry
dead with Windows Mobile 2005.
By coincidence, the chief engineer handed me a Sprint PPC-6601 today; this device is based on Windows Mobile for Pocket PCs 2003 Second Edition. If they can get the push technology to work as seamlessly as the Blackberries, I have to admit that the PPC-6601 has some sexier features than the Blackberry. I will probably not carry it in the short term. I love the camera and camcorder features on my current Sprint phone. There is a PPC-6600 that has a camera and camcorder; I may have to look around for one of those to play with...
It appears that Microsoft is starting to take aim at Blackberries with smart phones:
dead with Windows Mobile 2005.
By coincidence, the chief engineer handed me a Sprint PPC-6601 today; this device is based on Windows Mobile for Pocket PCs 2003 Second Edition. If they can get the push technology to work as seamlessly as the Blackberries, I have to admit that the PPC-6601 has some sexier features than the Blackberry. I will probably not carry it in the short term. I love the camera and camcorder features on my current Sprint phone. There is a PPC-6600 that has a camera and camcorder; I may have to look around for one of those to play with...
8:22 for 7.0
I had a solid lunch-time run. I had originally set the virtual trainer on my Garmin Forerunner 201 for a 8:50 minute per mile pace over 7 miles. I covered the first mile in 8:15 and decided to set the spinnaker. I averaged 8:22 over 7 miles with the following splits: 1-8:15; 2-8:26; 3-8:27; 4-8:09; 5-8:27; 6-8:28; and 7-8:21. I can go faster, but I need to be chasing Wallen.
My best pace on this course is an 8:16 over a slightly shorter distance of 6.30 miles. My running course at work loops around the east side of the Mather Airport.
The weather was beautiful.
My best pace on this course is an 8:16 over a slightly shorter distance of 6.30 miles. My running course at work loops around the east side of the Mather Airport.
The weather was beautiful.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Skype
In the last week, Sharon and Liz have started to use a VoIP client from Skype to talk to each other. Although Sharon has been getting some drop-outs on our end, it have been impressed with the audio quality. After never having heard of the company before, an article entitled Skype dreams for developers popped up in my RSS feeds today.
Lacrosse
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Kings versus Timberwolves
Sharon and Liz went to see the Kings play the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fighting for the last play-off spot, the Wolves played with more passion and pulled away in the second half to win 112 to 100.
After the game, they went to P.F. Changs for a drink. Corlis Williamson came into the bar and Sharon got his autograph for Jack. Sharon was so impressed by Mikuni Sushi on Monday night that she took Liz back there for dinner.
After the game, they went to P.F. Changs for a drink. Corlis Williamson came into the bar and Sharon got his autograph for Jack. Sharon was so impressed by Mikuni Sushi on Monday night that she took Liz back there for dinner.
Brad Miller
While Jack and I were watching the Kings versus Timberwolves game, Michelle Tafoya interviewed Brad Miller in the tunnel during a time-out. During the interview, Brad said that he would be back for the first game of the playoffs.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Open Day Ceremony
We attended the Opening Day Ceremony and Carnival for Laguna Youth Baseball.
Most of the rest of the day was spent weeding the back yard. We have plans to host a party in two weeks and have a lot of work to do!
Last fall, we went to dinner at Past Pomodoro and enjoyed the dinner. Going back for the first time since then, the food was mostly burnt! While the place was packed last fall, this time, it was very easy to get a table, too easy...
Most of the rest of the day was spent weeding the back yard. We have plans to host a party in two weeks and have a lot of work to do!
Last fall, we went to dinner at Past Pomodoro and enjoyed the dinner. Going back for the first time since then, the food was mostly burnt! While the place was packed last fall, this time, it was very easy to get a table, too easy...
Friday, April 01, 2005
The Global Economy
Some time back, I installed Itunes on Sharon's laptop and showed her the basics of using the software. Over the last two weeks, she has started to use it more: buying some music from the on-line store and ripping some of her CDs. When she started talking about burning some CDs to run with, I decided to get her a mini-iPod.
I wanted to get the iPod engraved with her name on the back so I ordered it from the Apple On-line Store. I selected expedited shipping with the hope that it would be here when she got back from her trip. Tracking the shipment using the Fedex number, I was amazed at what happened next.
Apparently, my order was sent directly to the factory in China. The iPod was engraved at the factory in China and picked up there by Fedex. The Fedex tracking log is shown below. In slightly more than three days from the time that I submitted the order, it was delivered to the house by Fedex!
| 1-Apr-05 | 9:42 AM | Delivered | ELK GROVE CA |
| 7:02 AM | On FedEx vehicle for delivery | RANCHO CORDOVA CA | |
| 6:20 AM | Arrived at FedEx Destination Location | RANCHO CORDOVA CA | |
| 31-Mar-05 | 10:10 PM | Left FedEx Ramp | SACRAMENTO CA |
| 10:10 PM | Arrived at FedEx Ramp | SACRAMENTO CA | |
| 4:45 PM | Left FedEx Ramp | SAN JOSE CA | |
| 4:00 PM | Arrived at FedEx Ramp | SAN JOSE CA | |
| 4:26 PM | Left FedEx Sort Facility | INDIANAPOLIS IN | |
| 4:07 PM | Left FedEx Sort Facility | ANCHORAGE AK | |
| 12:43 PM | Arrived at Sort Facility | ANCHORAGE AK | |
| 30-Mar-05 | 10:12 PM | Left FedEx Origin Location | SHANGHAI CHINA! |
| 29-Mar-05 | 7:30 AM | Ordered on-line at Apple Store | ELK GROVE CA |
Bobby Jackson
Watching the Kings play the Cavs on ESPN HD, Jack and I saw Jim Grey interview Bobby Jackson. During a long interview, Bobby indicated that he expected to be back for the last week of the season.
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