De' fliengde Vuogtlänn'r

Observations, rants, etc. from a guy who really gets around.

23.11.05

Tower of Babble

"Psychology is 20% observation and 80% speculation." -- Master Doh-San

One of the things about so many psychologists that really irritates me is that they can be so condescending. Monday evening, I sat in on a gathering where the subject was "Interpersonal Relations and Communication". Yeah, single people really need that, huh?

Anyway, I chatted with the speaker afterward and remarked that his treatment of the subject matter was all well and good, but seemed geared heavily toward those who live their lives largely on an emotional plane.

Gee, you'd've thought I'd insulted his mother or something. What amazed me during the following conversation was how many times he "moved the goal posts" in order to prove whatever his point was.

18.11.05

One Down, One To Go

The primary impetus behind my visit to Utah was to meet up with two Linksters I've known for a long time but never met before. Yesterday, I met one for lunch and wound up spending most of the day with her.

My first challenge, of course, was finding my way to Huntsman Point. Absent any intelligent signage, I had to rely on the link Sandra had sent me for a map at MapQuest. That got me in the neighborhood, but I still had to find the actual building. Fortunately, I've never been timid about stopping and asking for directions. (Yeah, I know... I cheated. It's against the Guy Code. Sue me.)

The second challenge was finding a parking spot. I think they should have given me a discount for the time I spent circling around in the parking garage, looking for a visitor's spot. I finally parked in a patient spot and went in. I had already told Sandra what I would be wearing, so she'd recognize me. But I knew I didn't need to ask what she'd be wearing; I'd recognize that smile anywhere. And I was right.

Anyway, we had a great lunch and got a lot better acquainted. I'm still looking forward to the pics from her recent trip to China. It sounded like it was a great time. After lunch, we went to a museum over on West Temple Street and toured the exhibit there. I've always been intrigued by the technology of the early 19th Century. They even had a sap bucket like was used in Vermont at the time, and a diagram of how to put it together. We even managed to follow the diagram and get the thing looking like an actual sap bucket. And the docent told us that very few people are able to do that. Quite a feather in our cap.

By the time we got done, I calculated that I just enough time to get back to the Jahnmobile and fight my way thru traffic to get to the south side of town, where I was to meet two other Linksters for dinner. I didn't really want to end the time with Sandra, so I invited her along and she accepted. So, we braved the I-15 traffic all the way down to our exit, which was backed up almost a quarter of a mile. I almost missed it, 'cause I couldn't believe that the end of the line was actually the end of the line. By the time I saw my mistake, I was almost at the actual exit (Sandra -- who had been following me --had been smart enough to get in line at the proper place. I managed to squeeze into line and sat there wondering how she'd catch up to me. Not to worry, she had pulled out of line and come up next to me, so I let her in front of me. It seemed to take longer to make in off the exit and thru the intersection than to drive all the way down there.

All that notwithstanding, we made it to the restaurant with 15 minutes to spare. But guess who was late? By a half-hour yet! But, we had a great time, even bragging abuot being able to put the sap bucket together. (Maybe I need to change my LinkUp profile to put "Sap Bucket Assembler" under "Occupation"?) The people at the restaurant were very tolerant of us sitting there for so long, but at last we did have to leave. I came back and crashed in front of the TV -- exhausted, but happy. Fun times.

The thing about technology is that it's enabled us to come into contact with people all over the world. But only personal contact allows us to get closer. And that's what really counts in life. As the Master said: No machine will ever be greater than a man. Unless the man chooses to be less than a machine."

Now I have to hope that Deb can make it up here, or I can make it down to Phoenix.

I wonder how she is at assembling sap buckets?

8.11.05

Fitness Update -- November 2005

01 November
Yesterday's work-out:
Distance walked: 5.5 miles (with leg weights but no vest)
Push-ups: 200
Sit-ups: 200
No isometrics
Activity level: low
This morning's weight: 192

02 November
Yesterday's work-out:
Distance walked: 5.5 miles (with leg weights but no vest)
Push-ups: 200
Sit-ups: 200
No isometrics
Activity level: Moderate
This morning's weight: 192

03 November
Yesterday's work-out:
Distance walked: 5.5 miles (with leg weights but no vest)
Push-ups: 200
Sit-ups: 200
No isometrics
Activity level: Moderate
This morning's weight: 191!

04 November
None (not feeling well and didn't sleep well)
Activity level: Moderate
This morning's weight: 191

05 November
Yesterday's work-out:
Distance walked: 5.5 miles (with leg weights but no vest)
Push-ups: 200
Sit-ups: 200
No isometrics
Activity level: Moderate
This morning's weight: 191

06 November
Yesterday's work-out:
Distance walked: 5.5 miles (with leg weights but no vest)
Push-ups: 200
Sit-ups: 200
No isometrics
Activity level: Moderate
This morning's weight: 190! (Yay! Only 15 more pounds to go!)

06 November
Yesterday's work-out:
Distance walked: 5.5 miles (with leg weights but no vest)
Push-ups: 200
Sit-ups: 200
No isometrics
Activity level: Moderate
This morning's weight: 189! (Yay! Only 14 more pounds to go!)

No more updates for a while, as I'll be on the road and won't even really be able to weight myself, let alone work out like I have been doing. I will be working out, just not like I have been.

21 November

Yeah, I haven't been working out while I'm on vacation. Sue me. And I haven't found a reliable scale, either. Until today. I'm still at 189. Yay me!

23 November

Still no workout, but I'm down to 188.6.

3.11.05

Hello, Kitty

So, I stepped outside last evening to stretch my legs a bit so they wouldn't cramp up from all the walking I do. Just after I got outside, I heard a kitten cry. At first, I thought it was a cat in heat, but it dawned on me very quickly that it was a lost kitten, calling for its mother.

I walked down to the parking lot and looked around a bit and there he was: wandering around between a couple of cars. Well, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a sucker for cats. There was even a joke going around about me and a certain Linkster, that we were going to get married and live in a shack in the woods with 17 cats. But I digress.

He came over to me quite readily (no surprise there) and let me pick him up right away. He looked like he was just barely of age to be weaned, so I guessed that his mother was trying to get him out on his own. He kept crying all the way up to my third-floor apartment. Once inside, I poured a couple of teaspoons of milk onto a saucer and gave it to him. It was a good sign, that he didn't drink it all. At least he wasn't malnourished.

After that, I stretched out on the bed to watch "That '70s Show" and he curled up on my chest and drifted off to sleep. Unfortunately, we're not allowed to have pets here, so he was out of luck. But I let him stay with me until I had to crash, and then took him outside. I put him over in the corner by the dumpster, where I'm sure his familiy hangs out. It really broke my heart to have to leave him out there, but I had no choice. I wasn't around much today, so I still haven't seen him. They usually only show up in the evenings, so I'm keeping an eye out. I'll probably call a shelter or clinic tomorrow and see if I can find one that will take him.