In a couple of hours I'll be flying for the first time since September 11. I'm not nervous about the flight, but I am anxious about the situation in the airports (going from San Jose to Phoenix) - how much hassle it will be, how long the delays will be, etc.
Saturday morning I'll fill you in on the adventure, and anything learned.
(Weather forcast: Days in Phoenix/Tempe area are ten degrees warmer than San Jose - Nights are ten degrees cooler. Outlook: Sunny.)
Wednesday, November 28, 2001
Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Today's Mercury News included an empty grocery bag with instructions to fill it with "nutritious, non-perishable foods" and bring it to the Second Harvest Food Bank. The paper included the following note from the Publisher:
In other news, I neglected to comment on the latest results from the Microsoft anti-trust suits. The software behemoth has agreed to donate software and used computers to low-income schools as part of its bid to not be broken into several smaller companies. Before anybody jumps for joy over the donations, consider what "used computers" means. Support, anybody?
Let's see... Microsoft's "punishment" for monopolistic practices is to place their software into schools, one of the few markets where Apple still has dominance. What's next? Punishing Peeping Toms by sending them to nudist camps?
"Dear Reader,I want to thank the Mercury News, and congratulate them on this meaningful show of community leadership.
"The economic downturn and events following the Sept. 11 attack have affected many people in the Bay Area. There's an easy way for you to help those with the greatest needs..." (Read the rest of the note)
In other news, I neglected to comment on the latest results from the Microsoft anti-trust suits. The software behemoth has agreed to donate software and used computers to low-income schools as part of its bid to not be broken into several smaller companies. Before anybody jumps for joy over the donations, consider what "used computers" means. Support, anybody?
Let's see... Microsoft's "punishment" for monopolistic practices is to place their software into schools, one of the few markets where Apple still has dominance. What's next? Punishing Peeping Toms by sending them to nudist camps?
Monday, November 26, 2001
In case you needed any more proof, Economic Panel Says U.S. Has Been in a Recession Since March. Now all those people who are out of work, and those of us who were lucky enough to find new jobs (at less pay than we had last year), can stop blaming ourselves. (That was meant to sound sarcastic, by the way).
Well, the weekend is over, the in-laws have gone home, it's another busy week at work, and it's damn cold outside. At least it stopped raining, but winter has definitely arrived. I think I need a new coat.
Well, the weekend is over, the in-laws have gone home, it's another busy week at work, and it's damn cold outside. At least it stopped raining, but winter has definitely arrived. I think I need a new coat.
Saturday, November 24, 2001
It's the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and I haven't posted since Wednesday. It's been an emotional and important few days with my in-laws, and I'm going to see if I can describe some of what's been going on, without invading their privacy too much.
My sister-in-law (my wife's younger sister) has been estranged from their parents for about six or seven years. Until this last Wednesday, it had been nearly three years since they'd even been in the same room. She lives about half-an-hour from us, in Santa Cruz. The parents live down in Malibu (about 400 miles). We (Leslie & I) have been in touch with her sister all along, and have in some situations been stuck in the middle, messenger, position.
The sister and parents began communicating again by letter only a few months ago (before 9/11). After 9/11, Leslie and I decided to try inviting all of them to have Thanksgiving with us, just to see if we could get them altogether.
The sister declined the Thanksgiving invitation, but it led to two invitations from her: For us all to have brunch in Santa Cruz with her on Wednesday, before Thanksgiving, and for the parents to join her at her counseling session on Friday (yesterday) to discuss their problems.
We were all nervous going into Wednesday's brunch, but it went very well, and by the end everybody seemed genuinely relaxed and pleased to be with each other. This was the first time the sister and the parents had been together in nearly three years, and their first communication that wasn't by short, written notes. As we left the cafe, the sister sounded very sincere as she apologized for not being able to join us on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Leslie, her parents, one of friends with no local family, and I all had a great Thanksgiving dinner with much laughter, but the Friday session was, of course, on our collective minds.
Leslie & I drove her parents back to Santa Cruz on Friday and dropped them off at the counseling session. We drove out to West Cliff, overlooking the beach, and spent that very long hour watching the surfers. When we met them again, outside the counselor's, the three of them looked like a family again, and were continuing to talk, and even smile.
We first all went to the sister's house (the parents had never seen it), then to the Saturn Cafe, where we sat, talked, laughed, had a small snack, and just hung out together, as a family, for a couple of hours beyond the scheduled meeting.
Today's plan was for the sister to come over here, to Los Gatos, to meet us all for brunch - an additional meeting, not in the original plan. Right now, however the rain is coming down in buckets and there's a powerful wind, so I'm not sure if she'll make it. It's only 25 miles from here to Santa Cruz, but the mountainous stretch of Highway 17 that separates us earned its nickname "The Haunted Highway" from people crossing it in weather like this. Hopefully, it will let up in the next hour or two and allow this reunion to continue.
Whether or not we do all get together today, the last few days have been an historic event for the family. It doesn't solve all the problems, but it makes broad steps towards a reconciliation that has, at times, seemed an impossible dream. And that's my Thanksgiving story.
My sister-in-law (my wife's younger sister) has been estranged from their parents for about six or seven years. Until this last Wednesday, it had been nearly three years since they'd even been in the same room. She lives about half-an-hour from us, in Santa Cruz. The parents live down in Malibu (about 400 miles). We (Leslie & I) have been in touch with her sister all along, and have in some situations been stuck in the middle, messenger, position.
The sister and parents began communicating again by letter only a few months ago (before 9/11). After 9/11, Leslie and I decided to try inviting all of them to have Thanksgiving with us, just to see if we could get them altogether.
The sister declined the Thanksgiving invitation, but it led to two invitations from her: For us all to have brunch in Santa Cruz with her on Wednesday, before Thanksgiving, and for the parents to join her at her counseling session on Friday (yesterday) to discuss their problems.
We were all nervous going into Wednesday's brunch, but it went very well, and by the end everybody seemed genuinely relaxed and pleased to be with each other. This was the first time the sister and the parents had been together in nearly three years, and their first communication that wasn't by short, written notes. As we left the cafe, the sister sounded very sincere as she apologized for not being able to join us on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Leslie, her parents, one of friends with no local family, and I all had a great Thanksgiving dinner with much laughter, but the Friday session was, of course, on our collective minds.
Leslie & I drove her parents back to Santa Cruz on Friday and dropped them off at the counseling session. We drove out to West Cliff, overlooking the beach, and spent that very long hour watching the surfers. When we met them again, outside the counselor's, the three of them looked like a family again, and were continuing to talk, and even smile.
We first all went to the sister's house (the parents had never seen it), then to the Saturn Cafe, where we sat, talked, laughed, had a small snack, and just hung out together, as a family, for a couple of hours beyond the scheduled meeting.
Today's plan was for the sister to come over here, to Los Gatos, to meet us all for brunch - an additional meeting, not in the original plan. Right now, however the rain is coming down in buckets and there's a powerful wind, so I'm not sure if she'll make it. It's only 25 miles from here to Santa Cruz, but the mountainous stretch of Highway 17 that separates us earned its nickname "The Haunted Highway" from people crossing it in weather like this. Hopefully, it will let up in the next hour or two and allow this reunion to continue.
Whether or not we do all get together today, the last few days have been an historic event for the family. It doesn't solve all the problems, but it makes broad steps towards a reconciliation that has, at times, seemed an impossible dream. And that's my Thanksgiving story.
Wednesday, November 21, 2001
"Give thanks. Then give."
What do you call the day after Thanksgiving? It's a Friday that most of us get off as a holiday, but what holiday is it? That question has finally been answered as the Holiday formerly known as "the Friday after Thanksgiving" has been christened "Giving Day."
"Continue the spirit of Thanksgiving by celebrating Giving Day," the Giving Day website suggests. They don't tell you what to give, or to whom, but give ideas on how your time, money, old furniture, and commitment can help for some cause you believe in.
They explain the new "holiday" in three easy steps:
· Step One: Make a Giving Day Commitment - Do that today by thinking about what causes are important to you, and how you could help this week. Write down your commitment on your to-do list for Friday.
· Step Two: Begin on Thanksgiving - Get the word out by sharing your commitment and the concept of Giving Day with your family and friends over Thanksgiving dinner. Don't be shy, remember how appropriate this is on Thanksgiving.
· Step Three: Follow Through - On Friday write that check, or sign up for those volunteer hours, or drop that old stuff at Goodwill, or whatever else you committed to.
In the spirit of Giving Day, I'm challenging everybody who reads this to call their local food bank and find out what they still need for Thanksgiving, then bring it to them today. I just dropped off a 20 pound turkey on Saturday, and may try to do another drop today.
Find out more and get ideas on how to celebrate Giving Day: Giving Day (.org)
What do you call the day after Thanksgiving? It's a Friday that most of us get off as a holiday, but what holiday is it? That question has finally been answered as the Holiday formerly known as "the Friday after Thanksgiving" has been christened "Giving Day."
"Continue the spirit of Thanksgiving by celebrating Giving Day," the Giving Day website suggests. They don't tell you what to give, or to whom, but give ideas on how your time, money, old furniture, and commitment can help for some cause you believe in.
They explain the new "holiday" in three easy steps:
· Step One: Make a Giving Day Commitment - Do that today by thinking about what causes are important to you, and how you could help this week. Write down your commitment on your to-do list for Friday.
· Step Two: Begin on Thanksgiving - Get the word out by sharing your commitment and the concept of Giving Day with your family and friends over Thanksgiving dinner. Don't be shy, remember how appropriate this is on Thanksgiving.
· Step Three: Follow Through - On Friday write that check, or sign up for those volunteer hours, or drop that old stuff at Goodwill, or whatever else you committed to.
In the spirit of Giving Day, I'm challenging everybody who reads this to call their local food bank and find out what they still need for Thanksgiving, then bring it to them today. I just dropped off a 20 pound turkey on Saturday, and may try to do another drop today.
Find out more and get ideas on how to celebrate Giving Day: Giving Day (.org)
Tuesday, November 20, 2001
You perform a selfless act one day. While asleep that night, the "powers that be" grant you a reward. You are allowed to be a witness to three events, anywhere, at any time – any three events you wish. What are they?
Well, that's an interesting journal prompt. I don't know if the scenario is very believable - usually when I think about such things it's more the result of magical powers, I Dream of Jeannie or Bewitched style - but I'll take a stab at it.
· The signing of the Declaration of Independence (Remember that not everybody signed it on July 4, 1776 - It traveled around with people adding signatures for years. So, I'll have to travel around with it).
· The first moon landing (Of course, to witness it properly, I'd have to already be there on the moon, beating Neal Armstrong to the punch - That's one big step for Ken!).
· The assassination of John F. Kennedy (I want to arrive a couple of hours early, set up some video cameras pointed at some key locations, and find out what really happened).
And now, the news:
Family Counts Cost of U.S. Food Aid 'Bomb' - US Aid package crashes through roof of home: "We'll do a test and feed it to the chickens first and then see if we can eat it."
Well, that's an interesting journal prompt. I don't know if the scenario is very believable - usually when I think about such things it's more the result of magical powers, I Dream of Jeannie or Bewitched style - but I'll take a stab at it.
· The signing of the Declaration of Independence (Remember that not everybody signed it on July 4, 1776 - It traveled around with people adding signatures for years. So, I'll have to travel around with it).
· The first moon landing (Of course, to witness it properly, I'd have to already be there on the moon, beating Neal Armstrong to the punch - That's one big step for Ken!).
· The assassination of John F. Kennedy (I want to arrive a couple of hours early, set up some video cameras pointed at some key locations, and find out what really happened).
And now, the news:
Family Counts Cost of U.S. Food Aid 'Bomb' - US Aid package crashes through roof of home: "We'll do a test and feed it to the chickens first and then see if we can eat it."
Monday, November 19, 2001
Yesterday my brother, Miles, and I went to the Auto Show in SF. No, I'm not buying a car at this time, it's just a "guy thing" to go to the auto show and pretend. Attendance was good, but not as strong as previous years. Whether it was because of the economy - people can't afford to even fantasize about new cars? - or because of terrorism - they're afraid to be in public spaces? - I can only guess. But their loss was our gain, as we were able to get into all the cars of our choice without fighting any crowds.
A few notes:
Cadillac - What the hell's wrong with these people? Of course, I was never one to fantasize about Cadillacs to begin with, but damn these things are getting ugly. Luxury cars that have the front end and grillwork of a truck? I don't think so.
Chevy, Pontiac, Buick - Crap! It's not just Cadillac, it's the whole GM family that's emphasizing the front grill, doubling the size of the logo, and looking uglier than ever. GMC has taken over the corporation, and there's nothing that isn't truck-like anymore. No wonder Oldsmobile was the line they cut: no trucks. - Bad news: Chevy's not going to make the Camaro Z28 after this year. I'll have to buy one - not as a mid-life crisis car, but as an investment: it's sure to be collector's item.
Acura: I used to think of Acura's as just overpriced, dressed up Hondas (not that Honda isn't overpriced on its own), but I did sit in a little RXS that got me rather excited.
Saturn: Ignoring their new SUV (which, for an SUV, isn't so bad), I was pleased with their lack of changes for the coming year. A good product that's still looking like an excellent value. I'm not ready to trade in my '98 SL2, but I would consider owning another Saturn if I did.
Mazda: Zoom, zoom. That Miatta is one highly affordable little sports car. If I'm going to have a mid-life crisis and buy a two-seater, this would fit the bill without breaking the bank. Something to think about.
VW: I've owned two VWs in the past (an '84 Jetta and a '94 Fox), and would enjoy getting into another. At this display I was fantasizing a Jetta for Leslie and a Passat for myself.
Audi: Of course the little TT is another great mid-life crisis car, but the whole line appealing. If you want to buy me a car for the holidays, anything Audi will do - from the smallest to the largest.
Chrysler: Leslie likes the PT Cruiser, and this was my first opportunity to get in one and check it out up close. I must say I was pleased, which doesn't always happen when I look at Chryslers.
BMW: With all the emphasis in this show that was put on SUVs and other truck-like vehicles, and other stupid design choices, I must say that BMW is one company that still gets it. Yes, they're now making SUVs, but they didn't let that take over the whole line. These are cars you can live in. And you might have to, seeing as the price tags for some of them would be a healthy down payment on a house. I'll take a Z3 for my mid-life crisis days and an M3 sedan for the rest of the week.
Ford/Lincoln/Mercury: The new Ford T-Bird is on my list of fantasies. I was also pleased with the Mercury Cougar for some thrills.
Saab: A perennial favorite, for good reason.
Well, I'm sure there others - I drooled over a lot of leather - but that's what I can remember off the top of my head this morning. I (hopefully) won't be looking for a new car for myself for a while, but Leslie's had her Toyota for 11 years, and we need to start thinking about her next car sometime in the next year.
A few notes:
Cadillac - What the hell's wrong with these people? Of course, I was never one to fantasize about Cadillacs to begin with, but damn these things are getting ugly. Luxury cars that have the front end and grillwork of a truck? I don't think so.
Chevy, Pontiac, Buick - Crap! It's not just Cadillac, it's the whole GM family that's emphasizing the front grill, doubling the size of the logo, and looking uglier than ever. GMC has taken over the corporation, and there's nothing that isn't truck-like anymore. No wonder Oldsmobile was the line they cut: no trucks. - Bad news: Chevy's not going to make the Camaro Z28 after this year. I'll have to buy one - not as a mid-life crisis car, but as an investment: it's sure to be collector's item.
Acura: I used to think of Acura's as just overpriced, dressed up Hondas (not that Honda isn't overpriced on its own), but I did sit in a little RXS that got me rather excited.
Saturn: Ignoring their new SUV (which, for an SUV, isn't so bad), I was pleased with their lack of changes for the coming year. A good product that's still looking like an excellent value. I'm not ready to trade in my '98 SL2, but I would consider owning another Saturn if I did.
Mazda: Zoom, zoom. That Miatta is one highly affordable little sports car. If I'm going to have a mid-life crisis and buy a two-seater, this would fit the bill without breaking the bank. Something to think about.
VW: I've owned two VWs in the past (an '84 Jetta and a '94 Fox), and would enjoy getting into another. At this display I was fantasizing a Jetta for Leslie and a Passat for myself.
Audi: Of course the little TT is another great mid-life crisis car, but the whole line appealing. If you want to buy me a car for the holidays, anything Audi will do - from the smallest to the largest.
Chrysler: Leslie likes the PT Cruiser, and this was my first opportunity to get in one and check it out up close. I must say I was pleased, which doesn't always happen when I look at Chryslers.
BMW: With all the emphasis in this show that was put on SUVs and other truck-like vehicles, and other stupid design choices, I must say that BMW is one company that still gets it. Yes, they're now making SUVs, but they didn't let that take over the whole line. These are cars you can live in. And you might have to, seeing as the price tags for some of them would be a healthy down payment on a house. I'll take a Z3 for my mid-life crisis days and an M3 sedan for the rest of the week.
Ford/Lincoln/Mercury: The new Ford T-Bird is on my list of fantasies. I was also pleased with the Mercury Cougar for some thrills.
Saab: A perennial favorite, for good reason.
Well, I'm sure there others - I drooled over a lot of leather - but that's what I can remember off the top of my head this morning. I (hopefully) won't be looking for a new car for myself for a while, but Leslie's had her Toyota for 11 years, and we need to start thinking about her next car sometime in the next year.
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