Gene Catlow's Journal
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| Sunday, October 18th, 2009 | | 12:24 am |
| | Sunday, September 6th, 2009 | | 11:23 am |
It's a boy ^_^
Just got the word: I am officially a (sort of) great-uncle. :) Robert Abraham Harrison, 9 pounds 8 ounces, arrived at 2:45 in the morning on Sept. 5 2009 Mom and baby, both fine. New dad seems to shed a few pounds worrying, but otherwise also fine. :) Current Mood:  happy | | Thursday, August 6th, 2009 | | 12:20 am |
A note of goodness
It appears that by this time or so next month, I'll be a (sort of) great-uncle. ^__^ My niece (or as close as you can be to being a niece without being actually related and in my book that's good enough) is right on schedule and in perfect physical condition pregnancy-wise. The things they can do with ultrasound and such are incredible. You can actually see your preborn baby's facial features nowadays. It was awkward enough having your folks drag out your baby pictures - now they can have a prenatal album of you. O_o Current Mood: contentCurrent Music: Rock-a-bye-baby | | Thursday, July 16th, 2009 | | 4:44 pm |
| | Saturday, July 4th, 2009 | | 11:49 am |
A comedy of errors
This will be quick since I'm pressed for time: Things have been screwed up - had to deal with with more family stuff so I missed my first flight, they changed planes so some of my luggage is lost, using my credit card out of state marked it "stolen" and I had a hassle getting that straightened out, Tawana's flights got delayed too and worst of all the person who was supposed to be helping us in PA had to back out at the last minute. How much time we'll get to spend at AC is anyone's guess but we have a rental car and we're gonna TRY to make it. See you there (hopefully) Current Mood:  frustratedCurrent Music: me grinding my teeth | | Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 | | 4:56 pm |
Rollin' rollin' rollin' .. Keep them dogies rollin'...
So aforementioned parent is in hospice care now. It's officially what's called palliative care, which means the treatment is to make the patient as comfortable as possible... and that's all. I'm beginning to see how big a job this parenting business is. Not only do they have to bring you into the world (occasionally threatening to take you out of it, as per Bill Cosby's dad), pay the bills, keep a roof over your head, help you get an education, do as facile a job as humanly possible to raise you to adulthood... but, upon their approaching the end of the road, show you how to make your exit with grace and a sense of accomplishment. Big job. Not everyone can handle it. Mine appear to be the kind that can. There's a harsh elegance in finding out you finally can deal with seeing someone who you grew up with, someone who for years was The Layer-Down Of The Law in the house, the one you may have argued with but never disrespected even when you didn't see eye to eye, the one you occasionally ran from but always looked up to.. deflated and worn by "the years" and "the mileage" (because it's both) taking their last bow with good humor and dignity. Someone who's been teaching you lessons all your life teaching you the last one.. last one being that you too will hit this stretch of the road yourself one day - yes, YOU WILL - maybe not as hard, maybe in a different condition, but yes, you will. So try to be at least as graceful as this, okay? Make me proud I raised you. Still wishing that they'd taken better care of themselves, but maybe that too is a lesson - take better care of yourself, son - and starting to see it through their eyes... I mean, I can only imagine what it was like (from everything they told me as I was growing up) and there's issues I've had to experience, yes, but... someone who grew up on a farm, a child of sharecropper parents (both of mine were) lasting all the way to this period in history.. living to actually see everything that has happened in this period in history, which they didn't think they'd live to see... <=) Said parent is at ease with this. And though, myself being the "fix stuff" type who can't help but have repair actions and treatment options buzzing my brain, I'm at ease with it too. But of course I am. I mean, quality in, quality out, right? In other news tonight, one of our slower managers at work asked me if I'd resubmitted my vacation schedule... because, after all, my job has changed. I told him that my actual manager (who he is not) told me to leave it the way it was. Slow manager hinted that I might be needed for standby this weekend. Slow manager was told by me that I had already made it clear that I'd be out of town this weekend. Slow manager chuckled that that was under my old work schedule. Slow manager was told by me that if he had any issues pertaining to this unanticipated change in my work responsibility that he could talk to our CEO, that had so graciously supported my career options in this matter. Slow manager went "Erm..." with his eyes resembling those of a freshly-caught fish, then shut the **** up and left me alone. Depending on parental events, I may not have as much time at AnthroCon as I planned, but it'll take more than that to nix the whole thing. ;) Current Mood:  contemplative | | Monday, June 22nd, 2009 | | 6:58 pm |
I think we're ALL living in interesting times
First off, I had a superb Sunday getting to visit Lord and Lady Solfire and basically spend a wonderful day with them - and getting to congratulate them on the Impendingness of Parental Status. The more I think about it, Ryan would almost inevitably make an awesome dad. I brought them one of my spare B&W monitors to help repair the server that will be their onsite backup for the webcomics site (Ryan got the forums going while I was there) and I got to UStream for a bit with Candy. My word, this newfangled technology has potential, you know? Ah, but that was yesterday and this is today. I received in my inbox the email that I was half-expecting, but still uneasy about in an ambiguous way... For those of you who might not know, the State of California is in dire financial straits. They're cutting, slashing, dollar-squeezing and penny-pinching right and left, and today it hit me where I live - or, rather, work. For the last year my company, through yours truly, has been providing contracted service for the document readers at the US Mint in San Francisco. I posted about it a year ago; I'm uniquely suited to work on these devices since I was trained on them during my years at IBM. The Mint was, basically, getting the same tech and the same service that IBM would charge, at a lower price. But, today, my company was officially informed that even that price wasn't low enough. All the state contracts the company has, all over California, have been suspended until further notice. This does NOT mean that I am out of a job - all our local-government accounts are just fine - and indeed it doesn't even mean that I won't be servicing the Mint any more. What it does mean is that every call will now fall nto a category called "Time & Materials". It means that (until further notice) there will be mo more onsite standby tech, no preventive maintenance scheduled. Every single call must be initiated, handled and completed on its own, and only the time taken and cost of parts used will be paid for. All the parts I now have in stock on-site will be sent to our branch office and I'll have to log every minute of travel time to get them, as well as every minute it takes me to fix the device. The State of California won't (or can't, it seems) pay a penny more. So... what does this mean for me? It depends upon how long this situation lasts. On the one hand, it's going to mean less money for me - in our company one is paid according to what one does and how well one does it and the Mint was a lucrative win for us. I definitely won't have the luxury of knowing where all my calls will be on any given day - I will be going wherever the company needs me. They won't be taking my cubicle at the Mint away from me unless the contract suspension is permanent, but I'll have to move a lot of my stuff out of there for the time being. And I'll have to get permission to be there every time, instead of just badging in as I do now. But, on the other hand... if we really do lose the contract - or have to draw up another, it frees me from the obligations I was under to the company. Part of the agreement with the Mint was that I would be allowed to train a replacement that would take over for me eventually. That got started, but they NEVER finished. If they couldn't afford full-time service, all they'll probably be able to do is work out some kind of limited service arrangement. In either case, it means I'm no longer chained to the Mint - and my original plan of being able to transfer my job elsewhere is back in place. Which makes me very happy. I was trying to maximize my earning power by taking the job at the Mint... but the fact that my training practically locked me into the position was at once flattering and imprisoning. Our company CEO even got involved, and that shows how important this was both to the customer and to our company. But that's all changed now... possibly permanantly. Since there is no longer any tech assigned there, it now means that any of our techs can take a call at the Mint, though I'll still be the lead tech, and it'll probably fall to me to help out my fellow workers if they get stuck on a problem. But now, the training issue isn't an issue any more. It's no longer just *my* account, and if it stays that way it may not even be my location, one of these days... I remember being so flattered that my past abilities ranked me so highly. But heavy is the head that wears the crown - or, in this case, holds the skill that locks you in one place. I ought to feel a sense of failure at being "deposed" so ingratiously, shouldn't I? heh heh Hee hee HAH HAH HAHHHHHHHH! >=) Sorry. *^_^* Current Mood: contemplative | | Monday, June 15th, 2009 | | 5:18 pm |
"Don't take life so serious. It ain't nohow permanent." -Walt Kelly
So... this last weekend I got a view of this "Life" walkway from both turnstiles again. The parent I spoke of last time (I'm being specifically vague because it's unfair to suddenly dump a lot of info on my LJ about something or someone if I haven't been writing about them all along) that the medical folks were unsure about as far as what was wrong? Well - now they are sure. Finally and decisively. The reason it took so long is because there's multiple things going wrong, and diagnosis gets complicated. But it wouldn't have been, if said parent in question had taken care of their own health a little better these past years. -_- But - water under the bridge. And so, since things have gone that far, and since said parent is who said parent is - has spoken about this quite a few times in the past on this particular topic - said parent has decided not to take the game into overtime (metaphorically speaking) but to let the clock run out. I wish I could say I was surprised... it's one of those things one knew was practically inevitable, knew theere was no measurable odds of avoiding, but still was hoping one would not hear. But no... said parent is firmly against going for a huge spate of expensive medical activity that would only give said parent another year or so anyway. Nope... does not want. Opting for hospice care as of this moment. I could go on about how needless... how with a tiny degree of foresight... how an ounce of prevention would have been worth several tons of... Sigh. -_- At least said parent was talked out of "leaving me on the curb in a Ziplock garbage bag". Grrr. If said parent wasn't already being measured for wings (or a pitchfork, more likely? Hey, I don't make the call) Joking, of course. In this case, I think one has to. <=) And after that, going to see the family member (technically not related but my family has known theirs since before I was born, in my book that makes them family too ^_^) who's With Child and proud of it. I see now why the friend whom I've known for a long time who's posting here on LJ about her own new pregnancy has spoken seriously about asking people ***Please Not To Touch The Belly Area*** because they really do have to. HAVE TO. There is something about seeing someone you've known for years, someone for whom it makes you happy just to be able to say you know her, she's very special to me.. now with a new life developing inside her - that makes you WANT to touch it. Seriously! I had to forcibly pull my hand back. At one point I had them both behind me, like an usher. Of course she knows that, and she was delighting in torturing me. But I forgave her. She's not on LJ, and in this case it's a plus. She and her husband were in tight financial straits back when they were planning to become parents, and I gave them some financial and transportational asisstance for the various fertility and medical matters that came up. The last thing I would want is to have someone other than CW announce on LJ "Hey! Gene helped me get pregnant!" She's mischievious... she'd DO it! O_O So... one of those hard-to-describe weekends. Getting the firsthand view of life about to leave this world and life about to enter it. What words can you put that feeling into? Current Mood: indescribable | | Saturday, May 30th, 2009 | | 1:26 am |
Noodling
I think that ought to be a word. It probably already is, but I think I'm going to assign it my own meaning. I've rediscovered and reacquainted myself with some of my old experiments at making computer music. I hooked up, programmed and jury-rigged some arcane setups in the past, long before there was MIDI, just getting all those different machines to behave in sync with each other was a talent in itself. Dusting off my brain and recalling how I got all those music programs to behave together and digging up the data are the only hard parts. Once I've got it, turning it into MIDI info is easy. Then toss it into my (somewhat) newer synth setup and voila! Old tunes given new life. Almost enough for an album. Perhaps I intended to make one? :) (Slightly related note: a floppy will hold data a LONG time if treated right! A cheap old 5 1/4 that's left out to catch dust and temperature will flake out, but a good quality one kept in its sleeve and under proper conditions will bounce those bits out as fresh as the day it was first used. You really do get what you pay for!) What else is going on with me... hmm. AnthroCon looks like it's still a "go"... fingers crossed ^_^ Life does seem to be doing what it's been doing since its been around... haven't posted about it on LJ but one of my parents isn't going in the best direction, health-wise... nothing imminent yet (I hope) but... one has to take care of oneself, and if one doesn't, well... -_- But there's new life arriving too, both among the family and among my LJ friends too (she knows who she is. And I am mega-happy for her! ^____^) Mostly, things are good. :) Current Mood: cheerfulCurrent Music: My own | | Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 | | 1:21 am |
Sorry my birthday pic was late...
..but for the one who.....had a not-so-great birthday - hopefully this will make up for it at least a little...
(the idea is drawn from the name of the location of their new place ^_^) Current Mood: hopeful | | Saturday, November 1st, 2008 | | 4:25 am |
Straight outta Narrowmindfield
Lifted quietly from the Witchiebun: Copy this sentence into your LiveJournal if you're in a heterosexual marriage, and you don't want it "protected" by the bigots who think that gay marriage hurts it somehow.Not technically married yet, but so "not even thinking of anyone else" that it is pretty much only a technicality. I keep waiting for these pseudo-religious haters to take some remotely intelligent action to genuinely protect traditional marriage, if that's what they truly want to do. Such as encouraging couples to stay together, advocating counseling before divorce, and analysing the reasons why the divorce rate is so high. Much more productive than trying to silence a perceived opposition. I've been to weddings and wedding receptions that newly-enabled couples have held since their rights were recognized by law. They're just... weddings. (Well, one of them wasn't. Two ladies who'd waited almost half their lives to get hitched - that one was more pageant than wedding. Rustic location, dances, costumes, hundreds of guests. Incredibly lovely. ^_^) Not once have I seen any of these newlyweds stick their tongues out at their straight guests and go "NYAHHH! So much for your elitist status, you non-gays!" Self-righteously fighting to prevent any two people who love each other from having their relationship officially recognized is doing more damage to the concept of marriage than those relationships are. Every couple I know who has, until recently, been denied the blessings of legality have kept their relationships going longer - far longer - than the average one-from-column-A-one-from-column-B marriage lasts. I'm not qualified to say whether that's always the case, but if it is, and if it is a continuing trend, then sooner or later (more likely, sooner) it isn't going to be a matter of whether the pseudo-moralists approve of non-traditional marriage... it's going to be a matter of whether their approval matters one way or the other. And I really wish that didn't have to happen. But of course I'm seeing and evaluating this with my own brain and from my own perspective, and so is everyone else involved, from their own perspectives. Nowadays there are no fence-sitters to speak of; if one has an opinion, one has it - which means for all practical purposes I'm either talking to a brick wall or preaching to the choir. The tie-breaker, so to speak, is this: society has gone through, and will continue to go through, a LOT of ups and downs. But, historically, as far as personal freedoms and civil rights are concerned, the general trend is toward more of them, not less. After one of the last receptions I attended, a bunch of us went to a showing of the 60's classic, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". Watching Kate Hepburn and Spencer Tracy deal with their daughter wanting to marry Sidney Poitier was both marvelous, nostalgic and... dated. My brain kept saying that over and over. "Boy, that's dated. This seems like longer ago than it really was." But it only seems that way. It wasn't that long ago. Not long ago at all. Current Mood: calm | | Saturday, October 18th, 2008 | | 4:26 am |
| | Friday, October 17th, 2008 | | 9:32 pm |
| | Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 | | 5:02 pm |
| | Monday, June 23rd, 2008 | | 1:38 am |
Never mind seven, I wish I could come up with *one*... -_-
Legendary comedian George Carlin dies at 71What can you say? What can anyone say? I knew he had some health problems, but I was sure he had recovered. The way he was still touring, still kicking ass, he seemed like nothing could stop him. On that creaky old RCA black-and-white we had when I was growing up, I saw him doing his "Indian Sargent" routine on the Ed Sullivan show and quickly swiped that gruff tag line "You with the beads... outta line!" as a personal favorite. At one time I had more comedy LP's than any other kind of record, and as much as I loved (and still love) the traditional guys who never used any offensive language, when George opened up on his "FM/AM" album with "I got fired last year in Las Vegas from the Frontier Hotel for saying "shit" in a town where the big game is called "craps", I laughed so hard I very nearly did what he got fired for referring to - and not just from the audaciousness of his delivery, but from the on-target method with which he nailed the hypocrisy of the situation. And yet, without any meanness. All those early Carlin albums were like that, calm laid-back style of delivery, but talking about subjects that scalded your brain. His angrier style would come much later, but those early albums are what I remember the most about George. He was one of those who created funny stuff so easily, it seemed more like he was just talking to you rather than trying to make you laugh. On one of his albums he said he didn't want to be buried, and he didn't want to be creamted either. He wanted to be blown up. He won't need to be, though. No one's going to leave more of an impact than he did. Current Mood:  sad | | Sunday, June 15th, 2008 | | 6:19 pm |
Three Skunk Night! (Well, three skunk & one bear weekend, actually)
The more time I spend in the world the more I value being able to spend some of it with my friends. Especially the ones I haven't seen in awhile. There's no quality time like catching up with pals that have been distant for years and really getting to talk to them. I know, you can keep in touch all kinds of ways nowadays, but nothing beats hanging out together iRL. :) Two of them are back in the Bay Area, so hopefully I'll get to see them more often... the big huggy Fuzzybear and the almost-as-huggy Dingus let me buy them lunch on Saturday and I got to catch up on all the stuff that's been going on with them since they went up north. I've been able to see them (briefly) at FC the last few years, but finally I really got to talk to them. Ah, for the days when these two and Kev and Rain were all local and we could strike fear into the hearts of... well, when we could hang out and have fun, really. But the big bear and the sly skunk are back, and this is a Good Thing. Then this morning (Sunday) I got a surprise visit from my longtime pal Burlington and his fiance Moonlight! I haven't seen Burlie iRL in years and only met Moonlight for a matter of minutes at an Anthrocon so far back it was still Albany Anthrocon then. So we had a HUGE bunch of things to catch up on. My two mephit 'migos were out here on the West Coast to deal with some family legal stuff and had to head off to LA in the late afternoon. But it was soooo nice to really get to see them again. Some people can make you happy just by the positive energy they give off. (Moonlight credits me with helping her and Burlie stay together back when her folks disapproved. I don't really take credit for it but they make it kind of hard to argue with them. ^__^) Now I've been through LJ and I see that the mighty Mako has secured a solid new IT position! After an undeserved and undue stint in the unenjoyment line that's the best news I could hope to hear. So.. a vastly-better-than-average weekend? I'd say so, yup. :) Current Mood: happy | | Sunday, June 8th, 2008 | | 10:42 am |
| | Thursday, May 8th, 2008 | | 1:00 pm |
Hippo Birdy Erika!
 May you have cool stuff happen on your birthday! ^_^ (And, well, just generally all the the time, really. But especially today.) Current Mood: happy | | Friday, April 18th, 2008 | | 11:03 pm |
| | Sunday, March 16th, 2008 | | 1:02 pm |
The world's greatest gearhound!
Belated birthday wishes to the mighty Mako! Without whose assistance I might not have the job I've got now (having a working set of wheels was of crucial importance when I got the nod) and really for just being an all-round great guy. Hope your birthday ruled, sir! Current Mood: happy |
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