[I] think there is a universal law that says the longer the vacation, the faster it goes by and the harder it is to go back to work. We were off for a total of 23 days–just over 3 weeks. Today we were back to work, and the kids were back at school. When I…
[O]nce upon a time1 I wrote a post2 titled “Instant Classic” in which I bemoaned the misuse of the term “classic” in the phrase “instant classic.” I wrote, “Instant classic” is an oxymoron, right?… A just-released comedy can’t be a “classic”. The reviewer needs to go back to reviewer school. This was an example of me,…
[I] am spending New Year’s Eve in a hotel in the wilds of North Carolina with the family, the second of three legs of our long drive home from Florida. Tomorrow, January 1, we finally get home. I still have a few “year-in-review” posts to write, but I am too tired from driving to work…
[M]y brother-in-law, Jason Ashlock, put together this cool ad for Jose Cuervo. They did it by: Play[ing] “Auld Lang Syne” by spinning 57 tequila-filled bottles in a hand-cranked carousel next to re-engineered Shop-Vac connected to a gramophone. After my 7 hour drive today, I could use some tequila. Here’s the ad: You can read more…
[D]riving back to my in-laws this afternoon after taking the kids to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, we sat in the blessedly cool air conditioning of the car (it was nearly 90° F outside), listening to Sirius XM 80s on 8, and Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy1” came on the radio. I did the same…
[I] am going to spend today and tomorrow away from the blog. But I will be back on Friday with another brand new Going Paperless post for those interested. If you celebrate Christmas, I wish you a very merry one.
[I] am here at Disney World, having a blast with the family. I have been entirely immersed in vacation, and I guess that means I’m doing something right. A few notes for the next couple of weeks: 1. I mentioned that I would be posting a new Going Paperless post on Tuesday, but as you…
[T]he first leg of our vacation is complete, and the second leg has just started. We left the house Saturday morning, and drove to Florence, South Carolina, which is our usual first night stopping point. We did the entire 403 mile drive making only one stop, in large part because the kids were entertained and…
[T]is the season when the mall food court below my office pipes in Christmas music nonstop around the clock. It is also the season when Sirius XM has its various Christmas music channels, and Kelly wants to listen to them whenever we are in the car. In the past, I have grumbled about how the…
[W]e set up the Christmas tree yesterday. Kelly stood up the tree. I helped string the lights and a handful of ornaments. The rest of the decorating was done by the kids. Later, they made holiday cookies for the neighbors. Of course, now that the tree is up, it no longer feels like winter. The…
[W]e had a full house for Thanksgiving this year, and it was a blast. Lots of turkey, lots of food, lots of drinks, fires in the fireplace, and even some snow to start things off. All of our guests headed back home yesterday, and we used yesterday afternoon to recuperate. The kids napped for hours,…
[W]e are down to 20 days and counting before we head off on vacation, and what has become a December tradition for us. I have been looking forward to this vacation for a long time. I need the break. The day job has been busy and stressful lately, with no sign of letting up. It…