Nov. 30th, 2003

Drove down to Seattle to see the 'Nutcracker'. The Pacific Northwest Ballet did a world class job!

We also went to the 'cut down your own tree' place. And secured an appropriate size tree for the dining room table. We'll have another room size tree next year, of course.

Nov. 27th, 2003 Happy Thanksgiving. Balance of Thanksgiving pictures are HERE.

Waiting to get first crack at the giblets. . .

Nov. 26th, 2003

Work with power saws? You need   THIS .  Nod,   Mike

HELP!? Anyone know a program that opens Vcard files besides 'Outlook'?

Nov. 25th, 2003

Pictures of Hogan Garrison Smock (thank you Brett) are HERE 

From   Thetoqoue  comes important advice re; internet WEB failure.
I particulary agree with number 10:

10. Use Your Emergency AOL Disk
If you find that your connection to the Internet is going to be longer than you can possibly stand, as a last resort, pull out an emergency AOL CD, the one with 910 free hours of connection to the AOL service. Take the CD in one hand... and slash it across your wrist! Suicide will probably be a better alternative than connecting to that service.

Well said!

Nov. 24th, 2003

Thanks to Ken for showing me how to 'bookmark' from within the same document. I used it to link to the Nov. 12 03 entry, of Johns photos, in/from yesterdays (11-23-03) entry. Well, this can't ALL make sense.
It's the same kind of bookmark that one clicks to 'go to top of document'. I had no sooner emailed Ken when I also found the  reference  in 'O'Reilly's' Definitive Guide.

This promises to be a fast week, and a fast month. As I imagined, the IL Sec of State merely wanted another couple hundred bucks to release the hold on my drivers license. Dang.
Not much computer time on this machine today, but got several hours with Dick on his speedy new HP. What a nice machine! Fast and fancy.

Thinking of breast augmentation? Check this site out first. Not for the faint of heart. IMPLANTS  Nod to Jeroen's Blog 
I might mention that Jeroen did not have a link to the silicone page. But he had a link to the site that did. And THAT site is too XXX for me to link to, if you follow?

Nov. 23rd, 2003

My wife is home!

Did anyone else notice that using the 'dancing skeleton' flash thing [11-21-03] (although great fun) tended to crash their browser?

Happy Thanksgiving!

My younger brother John (photo journalist and teacher, currently on the scene in Russia) is getting pretty famous! His   PICTURES  are featured in an interesting article descibing the situation in Georgia.
As well as in the 11-12-03 entry. And on the  november pix  page.

Georgia: President Shevardnadze Resigns Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze has announced his resignation after weeks of opposition protests demanding that he step down over disputed parliamentary elections earlier this month.

More information regarding the politics of this area is available here:   ADDITIONAL NEWS 
Links courtesy of John.

Nov. 22nd, 2003

Home alone! First time in a year. Gave the dog his ear meds. Empty'd the cat box. Called my dad. Ann visiting in Portland. Here's a treat - pizza rolls!
unable to find any interesting links.
Sure miss my honey.

Nov. 21st, 2003

Sure has been great having my wife home for the last few days! This could spoil a guy. . .
While she ran errands, I searched out a few links. As per usual, I started out at JEROEN's. A nod today as well to:   EYENO. And also, MIKE  for the following:   Don't Drink and Drive  is an almost too real reminder. Better to see and think, than drink and have to deal with consequences like these.

On a lighter note, Check out this   Dancing Skeleton, use the keys and space bar. . .

Then take an   IQ Test. A pretty clever test that gives you your results in an email. It's free.

See the Saab on the   Cable Tie Page.

Nov. 19th, 2003

Time for a good rant! Back in 1986 I had my driver's license suspended by the state of IL. I had over indulged, and for that lack of discretion I was required to go through a few hoops. Which I did, and got reinstated. I went on to live in IN and MI, and had a driver's license in both those states. I have had, therefore, a valid license for the last seventeen years.

Since my move to WA is permanent, I went to obtain a WA license. All went well until a query of the national computer (a new thing) showed that IL was still showing me as suspended? I was given a phone number to call, to get it straightened out. I did.

The state of IL said they would mail me some papers, which I might fill out and send back, with a check for fifty dollars. They did, and I did. Took a few weeks. I had to fill out forms attesting to my character and driving record, and have several friends fill out a few as well. I did, and they did. Months went by. I finally called to see what was holding things up, as my MI license was now expired, and I was in effect driving illegally? I was told that these things take time, typically 90 days or longer.

They did. I finally noticed that my check had been cashed, and then a few weeks later got a letter suggesting that my petition to the IL sec of state had been considered, and that august body saw no reason why I should be restricted from driving.

However, There would be another fee to get it re reinstated, to be announced at a later date, after I sent in proof of financial responsibility. I sent in the required documents. More weeks went by. I got a letter the other day saying all was wonderful, and I could now drive.

However, when I went back to the WA office with my letter in hand, I was informed (after a quick check in the national computer) that I was still being shown as suspended by the state of IL. I was given a number to call.

I will.

Can you say, Postal?

I should have been suspicious when I didn't get asked for the additional fee. I'm sure that will be forthcoming.

Nov. 17th, 2003

E'thing OK at the  DOCTORS. 
Relaxing by the fire, in the evening. Couldn't raise Dad all day? Fran says he's taking contact and sleeping.

Once again, thanks to JEROEN  for another good link, tho I think I might have clicked a couple times to get  THIS ONE 

These guys are all busy, yet find time to surf and post. How? I am such a wimp. I notice that my dates have been one behind lately? Wonder what THAT means?
Time for the Dr's to head off this cold. Here in WA, still the rains. 1/2 days for the girls. Ev - check your email!

Nov. 16th, 2003

Wet. Wet weather is here. Calling for a week of it. It's windy. About 45 F. with 45 MPH winds. Seems like spring in Michigan, but it's fall in WA. Everybody has a cold. Mine gets to be a cough, too. Ugh, hack. Wet weather is not helping this cold, nor is it helping the Saab. Took a bit of cranking to get it fired up for a grocery run. Time for a tune. Distributor cap, wires and plugs ought to do it. Change the oil for good luck. It would probably help to drive it farther than two miles a trip at speeds under thirty five, too. The rains make me remember I never fixed the wipers. Dang. I meant to. All summer. Now, where's that bottle of RainX? I'm getting a (personal) tune up, too. Going to get something for this cold, see the Dr, etc. Tomorrow. Promise. Colds want to head straight for my lungs, where they find a dilapidated mess suitable for infecting. They'll settle right into the burnt out air sacs and start whole colonies of extended bug families. Cough. Hack. This scenario must be checked in the beginning. As I'm sitting here, the sun suddenly blasts out of nowhere! And a huge double rainbow appears across the street.
The second rainbow is above the first, and just barely visible in the last or right hand frame of this three frame 'stitch'. Yes, I know, it doesn't all fit on your screen, and you must scroll a bit. Whine.

Nov. 12th, 2003
From Brother John:
It's funny. I didn't even notice the rabbit ears on the microphone until I got your email. The reporters are from Channel 9 in Tbilisi -- a news station. The sticker must be some kind of joke. Who knows how they'll translate what I said.

My photo agency in New York told me to stop sending pics of the election rallies until the police start wacking people. I shouldn't have to wait too long. Isn't the media industry grand?

Attached are three more recent pics.

John

MORE PHOTOS 

Nov. 11th, 2003
Eclipse seen from Michigan - Thanks Jerry the Vee.

Having a family day off! Here is some picture pokey fun. First, a picture of my brother John, being interviewed in Georgia, Russia. Adam's Web Adam sent the picture along. I wish I knew the name of the station?

Same picture after I was done with it, and sent it out to the family.

Nov. 9th, 2003
Car shopping in Seattle. Fae gets a new ride! Great lunch at the Pelican. Guy drove this car right to us! Hope it runs for a long time!

Nov. 8th, 2003
Yeah, well, the dang C 750 (olympus) uses a different card. BUT! It does still use four AA's, which I am set up to do.

You'll recall that the original two sets of re chargeable batts (and charger) that I purchased from Oly SEVEN years ago (can that be right?) six, anyway - are still in everyday service, and I've used the piss outa' them! Now, THAT, was a great investment. Can you imagine how many times I'd have replaced the batts in my cam by now! HUNDREDS! Cause that's how many times I've re charged them. the charger was expensive - how expensive, you ask? Well, it's been so long. . . i think it was close to a hundred bucks - and the two sets of re chargeable batts were close to that. seemed steep at the time (it was). But LO! It was a good choice.
So, how does that smartmedia work? Magic?
das

Quoting Ken  How Stuff Works  

Listening to whole Wheat Radio.  Great Music Online  Why am I always the last person to realize such cool things are out there? JEROEN  first pointed me to WWR. I'm not quite sure what his connection is to WWR?

Edit - 11-15-03
Hi Dave, Saw your posting about WWR. Actually, there is no connection between me an WWR, except I stumbled upon them one day about, well, maybe 5 or 6 months ago. Actually, there's a lot of music there I *don't* like, but there a quite a few things that attract me to them.
1. The whole concept of indie music, artists getting actually paid and me deciding what to hear instead of the silly execs of Sony, Warner Bros's, etc is very appealing to me;
2. Great, unique [in the sense of knowing you own probably the only CD in the country, well this small country at least] music *is* available from loving, hard working artists you can actually communicate with;
3. A couple of listeners I'd consider friends; they do things for me, I do things for them and in general, the WWR listeners community are helpful, reasonably intelligent, stable and free-minded people. I can imagine they're a bit too liberal for a lot of others, but that's basically my style too.
If you want to post this, fine with me. Enjoy! Met vriendelijke groet - with kind regards, Notice B.V. - ing. J.W.M. (Jeroen) Meijer Trekvalk 8 - 3435 ZP NIEUWEGEIN

Quiet day on the home front. We dug up a tree stump for excitement. Ugh. My old Canon TL SLR went on ebay for 60 bucks! The Voitlander is closing in a few hours around 80. This is money in the bank. Warm enough to ride but I'm trying to exercise some discretion, and do chores. Not just because Ann is home today, of course. She owns a nicer leather than mine. . .

Nov. 7th, 2003
Lunar eclipse  Lunar Eclipse  http://www.skynewsmagazine.com/pages/november8lunareclipse.html

TTJSB

This will have to be shorthand for: Thanks to Jeroen's Semi-Blog, BLOGGING  link noted earlier. If you don't check his stuff, you're missing a lot.

Turned chilly, here in the great pacific northwest. Several nights of record lows, in the twenties. Unusual for this area, but tolerable, since the temps shoot right back into the high forties, low fifties during the day. Sure does seem strange, though, to look at all that frost in the early morning light, and be motorcycle riding a few hours later. I'll take it. Went computer shopping   SHOPPING  the other day. Not really for myself, but for Dick. He is finally stepping up from a PENT I, running win95. 'Bout time! I went with him, and a bunch of his buddies (five) - making a day out of the trip to the Seattle area. That's where the big discount computer store (Fryes) is, and also Home Depot, Ikea, and Trader Joe's. We hit them all. Those guys wore me down like an old tooth. Dick got a nice HP. He's back in the front of the class, with a fast chip, tons of RAM, a huge hard drive and a generally fine computer running win XP. After he switches to broadband, he'll be in the 21st century. We got it going today, and online. He has some familiarizing to do, and that takes time. Learning a new operating system can be like going back to square one. Especially since he missed a couple upgrades, there. He missed all of the windows 98 fiasco, lucky fellow! He got a pretty good price, partly because; except for the operating system, not much software was included. Which is what he wanted, since I have tons of software. I'll start installing it in a day or two. Give him some time to get to know the machine, and have some questions. It's quite a jump from a 133 MHz chip to 2600 MHz. Programs just seem to POP open. And even a telephone modem jump from 33 KB's to 56 KB's is noticeable. Not like cable will be, going to several thousand KB's, but noticeable. So at last, my computer is no longer the fast kid on the block. My 2000 MHz chip was a screamer three years ago when I put this machine together. Now speeds are over four thousand. Well, this 'Fryes' also sells components and cases, mother boards and memory, video cards and chipsets. So, maybe early next year, I'll build a new one!

Nov. 6th, 2003

Dick was kind enough to include me in a shopping trip to Seattle with several of his chums. Great Fellows, all.   SHOPPING  We made several stops, and I had a hard time keeping up with these guys?! What energy! It was certainly nice of them to let me tag along, and I had a great time.

The fellows are used to traveling out in the world en masse, and they have it down to a science. Everyone was provided with a hand held communication CB. We were always able to stay in touch, and didn't have to stay in sight. What really caught my attention was the use of these devices to communicate from the front of the seven seat Van to the back!

I have a lot to learn about being retired.

We must all now bow to Dick as the acknowledged speedster in the gang. He bought a fast computer, and is now cutting edge!

Nov. third, 2003

Ann has only a two day weekend, having worked (if you call getting dressed up as the Cat in the HAT work) Friday. See pix below. The RRDave  RRDave Site  enjoying increased business STILL, thanks to being featured on the mentioned 'blog'.

We are getting into the EBAY stuff,  Ebay Voigtlander  having sold everything listed, so far, knock wood. Moving up to bigger items. Eventually hoping to sell the  Epiphone Emperor Guitar Epiphone guitar. Interested? Beat the rush and let me know.

No motorcycle riding this weekend. Temps below thirty this morning. This is VERY weird, for this area. Sunny and near forty by 11 AM.

Gotta' go mail the 'sold' items.

One has to start somewhere.

BLOGGING  

http://blog.notice.nu/notice/site.nsf/wwrbl0310#2603

is what got me started, finally.

E-mail comments To: dave@davesmock.com

I know there are date counters that update automatically, but I think I'll be better off doing this by hand:

Oct. 31st, 2003

That's it for the  Oct. 2003 PAGE  Next pictures will be found on   Nov. 2003 PAGE.  The  Quick Look Page  is retired. That is to say we won't be posting to it, anymore, beyond what's already there. You may still check it out, of course. What was going on that page will now get posted here. The idea is: post a picture here, and if you want to see more like that, they will be on the monthly page. There will no doubt be Halloween Costume pix by tomorrow. Well, Ann just stopped back in for more costume. She's putting in a Friday to garner time off in Dec. for our  TRIP   to FL to see the kids, and old friend, Jim and family.

The REAL DEAL Yes, that's Neil Armstrong
Thanks -  EYENO

Quoting "D. J. Kerr"

Belle Isle Mystery Solved
A friend in Michigan sent the shortcut to me today.
The Detroit News and the Freep have nifty websites. Check them out.

http://www.freep.com/news/locway/stone31_20031031.htm

DJK

Hmmm. Well, That'll be the day.
I don't read the local paper, let alone anything from out of state. And the local is pretty good, actually. I doubt that they're online. I'll ask Ann. I do read the comics, thanks to Robert B. Smock.  Dad's SURPRISE!
If I had time to surf websites, i don't think it would be Gannett papers from MI.
Or anywhere else.
Specific articles, well, maybe. I enjoyed the one you sent, thanks. OK.
I get my 'needed' news (if there is such a thing) from weekly or monthly accounts. Like, I care (or have time to wonder?) what goes on day to day in the rags? Right.
Gannett busted the union's chops in Chi and Det, you'll recall. I hate when the (local) courts are ignored by big bucks. Don't get me wrong, I never attended a union meeting until I'd been paying dues for almost thirty years. (Until I wanted them to help me save my job.)
The unions certainly did their part to bankrupt the railroad, and a few other businesses that I can think of. . . newspapers come to mind. . .
Whoa! What brought that out?

Oct. 30th, 2003

Whoa! What a neat wee mousy for the laptop. On sale at Radio Shack, around forty bucks. Wireless, infrared.

Here is a fun thing:  Drinkometer  from Wood. I'd also like to note that Anna has started   Anna's Webpage 

Anna's page inspired this:  FREE WEBSPACE! 
Still investigating the possibilities here. . .

Oct. 29th, 2003

The baggie thing was strictly germs. When Cristina and I were first married we dined with Roger in the windy, more than once. Sometimes for dinner, sometimes for breakfast. At least then, it was baggies with no apologies or explanations. Roger has never shaken hands with anyone, that I ever saw. He offers his arm, as it were. He'll sometimes suggest that he might have a cold, and therefore the reticence to shake hands. I like him, too, Jack. Get him to show you the long 'log' that he keeps for each trip. Not just fuel consumption, but weather, cars, car numbers, et al and on and on. Sometimes (when I was on a pinup crew) Roger was still on the train completing his 'paperwork' when I picked up his equipment in the depot to take to the carwash and yard. Roger is not in a hurry, ever.

Once, during a terrible storm in Mi, in the dead of winter, I left the house two hours early (about 2:30 AM) to try and make it to Pontiac crewbase in time to take out the early train. Which was the late train, Roger's train, from the night before.
I got stuck before I reached the end of my street, and had to walk back to the house and get a shovel. I made it in, about on time. As I headed down a side street going into the parking lot in PNT, there was a car crosswise in the middle of the street. It was a newish Thunderbird. It was Roger, driving the first car that he had ever purchased. He was shoveling a three foot drift, trying to get out of the middle of the road. He was in his seventies at the time. He has to be close to eighty, at least. I had my shovel, and we got him going. He has taken a lot of flack, about making room for a younger man. Bullshit, I say. Let him keep paying into my pension fund. I really do like that guy. He can do impressions. Quote endless paragraphs from popular novels and Shakespeare. Recite whole sections of any railroad code or rules that you can think of... There will never be another Roger Ross, and I'm proud to have worked with him. david

Quoting Hoefer
Same ole Roger. Someone told me that he quit eating with baggies on his hands though. I'm not sure what the baggie thing was. He once offered me baggies for my hands when we were lunching together at Zorbas. I'm thinking he didn't want to use the public restroom to wash his hands so therefore the baggies. No greasy hands from the hamburger. I think he still won't shake hands. He knows how much fuel the engines used during all his trips and that is part of the 'important stuff'. I like the man though. I hear some are giving him shit for not retiring. He told me that he got drafted right after he hired on the RR and was in basic training when we dropped the A bomb on Japan. Jack

-----Original Message----- From: dave [mailto:dave@davesmock.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 6:19 PM Subject: RE: Roger Ross

Does Roger look like his usual ruffled self? Bulging at the middle with a belt full of 'important stuff'? Hidden microphones in his shirt, etc? It is true, you know. I've worked as Roger's helper, many a moon. At least two tape recorders running for all communications. They'll never trap Roger! BTW, You may have noticed - Roger is just a tad paranoid? david

Quoting Hoefer

When I told him that you wanted to get in touch he seemed very curious. He said, "I wonder why he wants to talk to me?". I told him that I thought you just wanted to reminisce. He then had a pleased look on his face. I'll give him your # and see what happens. Jack

Addressing other issues:

How many times have we heard this? Mostly, from Mardi? Stay in the moment! Dang. There's alot of truth there. I was thinking of all the ongoing projects that I've dreamt up for myself, to keep me busy. I think dad's music project might be another one, like that. Scan this, copy that, record the other thing. All old stuff. Each day brings all this new stuff! Maybe I should just live it? New music. Today.

Glad you are getting some time off, that sure helps to keep things in perspective. I know that there were times when I used work as a drug, and an escape tool, to avoid having time to deal with my life and the related personal problems. Once those are out of the way, it becomes fun to have time off! Oh I know we are going to love the Shadow. I'm still not convinced I need 1100cc's, we'll ride them both and decide. That 750 750 Honda  I rode around the country carried me and all my junk just fine. Plenty of bike. It wasn't much before that time, that a one cycl 500cc Triumph was considered a premier roadbike! Now I see Honda's with engines approaching 2 liters. Four Triumph engines in one bike! Here, I'm riding mostly backroads, very little hiway riding, if it can be avoided. A good county map shows all the old hiways - the twisty old state roads. We've found that we can go all the way to Seattle and never get on the freeway. That's how my first wife and I traveled before - coast to coast and then some, and all on the old state roads. Much more fun than just blasting along at 80 MPH.

I'm hoping that this will be just a 'for fun' band, once or twice a month. Everyone has so many time constraints. As soon as I get my system reconfigured (that is, I can relearn it) I'll send you some soundz. We play old R n R, and R n B. Some folk, some country, and the really old songs from my dad's era. He was out to visit last month, and we got him to play a bit. Did you see those pix?

Dad plays 

http://www.davesmock.com/03sep/davdadplay3.jpg

That's an old 12 string.

The fender Fender guitar  is a telecaster. I only played that one (at the store) and took it right home with me, and the little amp. It's about a 5 or 6 hundred dollar guitar, new. Not that expensive, as Fenders go. We pay a bit more for stuff that's delivered here, to the island. The guy (ex husband of our next door neighbor - it's a small community) gave me a 'sweet deal' kicking in the amp and some cords for around 800 total. I'm happy. I paid off my visa with my next RRB check. Y'all keep working for me, now, heah? Once I got it home, I wondered why I'd done that? I've played mostly acoustic for the last twenty years? Call it what you will, I love the fender sound, and still like to kick 'em out! I really hope that I can find some guys my age to play with. My cousin's children all play (mostly violin and woodwinds) , and my wife's son plays lead and her daughter plays bass! and they're really good - but even busier than I am. It will have to be ret'd guys, like me! Well, I found some of my songs that I'd made digital last year. But, they're large files. Do you have broadband or telephone modem? I'll configure them for your system. People will try to steer you every whicha way. In the final analysis, it is solely up to you. We did have some good trips out there, didn't we?! It was always my observation that (esp in DET) Amt had way better engine drivers than conds. Mostly because the conds blew off conducting and went running! BASTIDS! I was always having way too much fun in the coaches, to give it up and run.

Running the Engine 

http://www.railroaddave.com/run

Suns out! You know what that means. . . It's almost lunch time, and I think I'll have to wheel downtown for a cheeseburger. I finally got my initials on a new pinball machine, I'm in the top ten high games. Going for number one, of course. At this point, I'm playing for free, in more ways than one! Going to FL in dec to see my kids. then to MI sometime later in the year. We'll see what we see.

More pumpkin stuff is at: More pumpkin Stuff 

Oct. 28th, 2003

This is a tues and I have enjoyed Whole Wheat Radio. What is that? You may find it at the above link. Great free music. And a forum, of sorts.

I don't believe that a 'blog' has to be updated everyday, but then, what do I know? I'm sure that someone will clue me in.

For now, that will have to be by email:   dave@davesmock.com
E-mail David

I'll certainly post any comments, etc. Eventually I hope to have some sort of interactive web forum here. But everytime that I've tried to set one up, it got pretty confusing, pretty fast. CHMOD?

Who does CURVES?
What's that about? Ann is going, three times a week.

Please don't feel that reading this page excuses you from visiting the 'recent changes' page! All things new at DAVESMOCK.COM

I know that you've been wondering, 'When is this guy going to write something new?'

Well, so have I.

Soon, is all I can suggest. Right now, Ebay is heavy, and there are still undone household projects.
We are still getting used to retirement. This is a very busy time, you see. you see, that, don't you?
We are way too busy emailing way too many folks. Maybe this (blog) will relieve some of those time constraints?

Things to look forward to:  
More of Robert Smock's writings will appear soon.
Anything else that I can think of, that might be remotely interesting. Nothing, so far. . .

I am, of course, open to suggestion. . .

Time to ride while it's warm and only damp, no active rain.

Oct. 28th, 2003 - 3 PM

The rain held off, the bike ran good. I am a lucky guy.
Good luck to Mark. More on that later. Going thru divorce, and we know how much fun that is!
Trying to decide what it might be appropriate to post here? Don't want to violate any personal confidences, etc.