Just got back late this afternoon from a weekend helping to do some work at Camp Harvest, near Newaygo, Michigan. We painted, cleaned, split logs, installed building insulation and removed docks and pontoons from the lake. It was wonderful to catch up with dear friends and meet some new folks. Here are the pics…
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I’ve been a bit slack updating the site for a few days, but not for lack of wanting. I’ve just been really busy with work and trying to get over a lack of sleep last week (average 4 hours/night for most of the week). The house is a mess, the lawns need mowing, the boat is still on the trailer in the back yard from the weekend and the car is still full of sailing gear. I have a few things I’ve been wanting to get off my chest, so hopefully I’ll be able to do so before the weekend.
Apart from the usual busy-ness at work, I’ve had to spend quite a bit of time this week urgently dealing with an application to extend my US work visa. I had to send 14 pages explaining why I’m indespensible to the US economy to my immigration attorney so they could prepare the petition. I should hear by the end of the month whether that’s been successful.
Despite all of that, I did manage to get out and do another run – the first time in a week and a half, and the first time in 3 weeks that I’ve managed a full 6 miles. I was a few minutes off my best time, but I was glad just to make it round the course after struggling so much last time.
Tomorrow I’m heading off to Camp Harvest in Michigan with the singles from Harvest Rolling Meadows to do some fall maintenance. Looking forward to catching up with a number of people.
Last weekend I got to go sailing again. Had a great time, though unfortunately it was the final regatta of the season.
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A few days ago I mentioned that I had discovered scoop.co.nz. Well today I discovered that they are currently streaming video of an entire show of Paul Holmes on Prime -
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00089.htm
Of course Holmes is one of my least favorite NZ TV personalities, but all the same it is very cool to be able to see some NZ TV from such a distance.
It occurs to me that most of my family in NZ really don’t have much of a mental picture of the world I live in here in the US. So on my way to work a couple of days ago I took some photos from the car while I was driving. Very ordinary shots, but they give a small glimpse of the environment here…
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A couple of sources have reported today that in 2003 Pres. Bush told the Palestinian PM that God had told him personally to invade Iraq.
Sydney Morning Herald
The Independent
sify.com
I could comment on the theological issues or the impact such an admission might have on the attitudes of muslims towards America. However to me the more interesting aspect here is the fact that these outlets have chosen to recycle a story that first hit the media over 2 years ago, when the incident is alleged to have actually happened.
The Moscow Times (June 30, 2003)
Bush Watch (June 25, 2003)
Patridiot Watch (July 2004)
I watched “Beyond the Sea” overnight – the Bobby Darin story written and directed by and starring Kevin Spacey. A little diversion from the current pressure at work.
It was quite an enjoyable movie, without really being outstanding. I was looking forward to it, since Spacey is one of my absolute all-time favorite actors (see “The Shipping News” and especially “K-PAX”). He did a pretty good job here, but the story itself was the real attraction. The main dramatic elements were (i) Darin’s sometimes strained relationship with his wife (actress Sandra Dee) and the struggle to balance his career with her’s and with the needs of his family, (ii) an unexpected discovery about his parentage (that I won’t disclose here, since it would spoil the surprise for anyone who wants to watch for themselves) and (iii) his struggle to integrate his social and political sensibilities into his stage presentation.
John Goodman played Darin’s manager, and as usual he was great. Bob Hoskin also had a fairly significant role. Having now also heard him speaking with his natural English accent in the on-disc special feature, I have a greater appreciation for his talent in playing an American.
New toys – in the software sense. I purchased a Win XP ungrade for my PC and installed it last night. I’ve been running Win98SE since 2000. When my PC was stolen in, oh I don’t know – 2001, I just had my original OS installed on the new machine to save the extra Microsoft charge. So it’s been a long time coming.
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http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0510/S00017.htm
The above link is to a press release from Jim Anderton under the heading “Govt committed to long-term growth for pipfruit”.
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http://www.scoop.co.nz/
Discovered this today (I forget how). I’m sure I’ve heard of it before, but it hasn’t been one of my regular haunts. It looks pretty good. So much easier to look at than the NZ Herald.
