I've considered leaving California for some time now.  I remember when I moved here, California in my mid-west eyes was a golden and adventurous place. The land of the movie stars and the last real frontier of America as it was on the West Coast.  When I moved out here nearly 20 years ago, it was to the Central Valley and I /hated/ it with a passion, thus why I finished college and hurried North to the SF Bay area.  I love it up here in the bay area (North Bay) and have left really comfortable for the 3.5 years we've been here.

The recent election on Prop 8 and it killing gay marriages which were deemed legal in the State makes me sick.  But I've been able to accept it, knowing that it will come to a vote again in a few years most likely and will probably win.  I recently saw Milk and that made me think that here in California at least, give it time, and it will go in favor of the gays of California. 

However, this recent article on banning divorce in California has me seriously, more than ever, thinking I need to get out of this state.   Wasn't it Henry VII that shook up the Church in England to allow divorce?  It's been "legal" to do in the US for... hell, I can't even find how long.  What the hell does this guy really think to accomplish?  It seems clear he has no real clue that "protecting traditional marriage" is like forcing your beliefs on others when in the US we clearly have stated in the Bill of Rights the Freedom to Religion!  Maybe my religion doesn't seem marriage the same way as he does, so you are going to force your views on me because you think in America its "traditional".  This is one political movement, if it ends up on the ballot (and I'm guessing it probably will knowing this state), that I'll be sure to get involved in. I'm going to be out there with a bloody sign or banner, maybe a damn bullhorn and verbally attacking those idiots trying to take away my freedoms from me because they think theirs are more important.  I'm fired up now... soon the Monster will escape, then watch out! RAAAAAAH!

Seriously, any of you out there who hear more about this as it progresses, please pass it on!  Especially if you know of or find those who are opposed to this.

This year is moving by quickly now. Ever since I started my classes the weeks seem to have just been flying by, not to mention I've been more motivated and focused on doing well.

I've a little over a week left of my current mod, which is the first of 3 with this instructor to get me the mad skillz to get my A+ certification, although I'm considering taking the Cert test before I finish these classes.  I even have the instructor suggesting I give it a go and he has pointed me to a few practice tests to try before I spend the money on the cert.

October is such a great month. Halloween for one, the weather here in Sonoma starting to cool off and autumn arriving, and the anniversary of my wedding. Nine years its been. Wow... Nine years. It doesn't seem that long looking back at it, but its been some very turbulent 9 years. Not for our marriage but just life in general, a life I wouldn't have wanted to wade through without my D.  I love you babes! Thank you for everything in the last nine years and here is to another great many years together.  Its good to look at the future and have it look brighter than it has in a long time.

Two weeks ago had a break at school for a week and all I can say is it was needed!  I'm back into class again, starting my second week of what will turn out to be about 18 weeks total of my computer hardware classes which will take me through the end of the year.  So far, its been pretty easy and straightforward and it will be prepping me for the A+ cert.  Great thing is putting an older system together. We are talking P3, 600Mhz processor with 128 MB of RAM a 40GB HDD (IDE naturally), and a CD-ROM drive.  Oh yeah, can't forget the AGP ATI Rage II graphics card which is just smoking hot. ;)   Its going to be running 98SE!  I feel old now since there are those in my class who never have seen 98.

So ready for Diablo III and Starcraft II to get released.  This weekend installed Starcraft and Brood Wars again, but only got through 3 of the Terran missions before being dragged away to see Inglorious Bastards. Loved the movie, especially the music and a few scenes where you can tell he took real care with audio aspects of the movie. As typical for Tarantino, a lot of dying and graphic violence but I did really enjoy even the plot even.  

Its going to be a hot week here in wine country. First day of Autumn and it feels like summer. Ohwell.. hopefully plenty of rain is on the way.

Another set of classes down with and over, once I take a final for Access tonight.  Yesterday I wasn't sure I was going to finish it all, but I did manage (with the help of goldenmaia ) to get my Access Final Project done last night. Wooo!   I didn't do anything fancy, just what the guidelines asked for, but with work picking up again I just don't seem to have the energy in the evenings to focus into doing more for class than just completing the assignments.

Next group of classes will be a lot more intense, only 2 classes but they are a solid four hours each night whereas so far its only been classes at 2 nights a week, 2 hours a night (was doing 4 classes though).  It's half as many weeks, but a lot more work. There are days I'd like for the program to be more like that, just to finish it sooner.

I came across this on viakhall 

I liked this article and felt it gave a overall positive view of the poly lifestyle to the general public.

This sums up my views on it nicely: "engaging in loving, intimate relationships with more than one person—based upon the knowledge and consent of everyone involved."

Enjoy.

Edit: Total newbie mistake and forgot to attach the link! Doh!

I've not posted much lately, mostly because I've been busy with work and school... but mostly trying to keep up with school. Its going to be a long year until I finish.

Anyway, all this talk about "affordable health care" has got me thinking and there is just one question I've not found a real answer too as our elected officials attempt to devise a health care system that is suppose to cover every American and not make us poor in the process.

What /is/ affordable health care? 

I don't see any definition of that anywhere. What's affordable to my neighbor may not be affordable to me.  What happens if the company I work for, who has already changed my health care so I'm paying for 50% of it now which is a rather large chuck of change, decides to drop me completely once a national health care shows up, and on top of that it's going to cost me more than what it would if my employer still offered a plan but wanted me to pay 100% of it?  Worse yet, what about all those of you out there with children. I don't have any and its times like these I'm glad I don't. How the hell would I be able to afford them?!

From all I've read and heard, it sounds like we may be on the track of health care for all Americans but nothing which is going to be affordable for everyone and definitely still far below the quality of health care available it just about every other industrialized country in the world.

Spending the 4th holiday in Reno at a cat show. Not going very well for guys unfortunately, but we did make it into the local paper's Independence Day edition yesterday. http://www.rgj.com They quoted Di and have a picture of our recent sphinx addition Desmond and me.

Its starting the 6th week since I started taking classes. I look back and it doesn't seem that long, then again, a lot more stuff is going on with life. :D

It can be amazing how it seems you can fit more into your schedule the more you do, well, to a point perhaps. But the last month and a half has been insane crazy. Work has been slow, but it still takes up 10 hours a day. Classes have been easy, nothing new yet and nothing I've not encountered before so its not required a lot of study time. Weekends have been taken up with cat shows, family stuff, or cleaning up the house because we've not been around to keep up with it. Not been missing WoW at all, even though I thought for sure I would. I think its because I made 80, did a few things I thought would be more enjoyable than they were so its just sitting out there as something I once did and may do again, but right now just too many other things I want to focus on instead.

Planning a big 4th of July weekend in Reno in large part because of a 3 day cat show! But Reno on the 4th should be awesome from what I've heard. Also, we've already done one cat show at the resort we will be staying over the 4th, and its freakin insane awesome. The place is like its own little city inside Reno. Movie theater, bowling alley, wedding chapel, stores, etc, etc. Only thing I'll need to stay away from is the one wall which must be 20+ feet high and 100+ feet log full of wide screens showing racetracks around the country. It showed a few other sporting events, but the weekend I was there it was all horse races.

Might, and this is a big maybe, get some camping in this year. I want to do a camp out over on the coast somewhere, but not sure where exactly we'll go or if we'll even find a spot this late in the year.  We'll see.

You look back at the last three years and it's amazing how things change and how life just speeds along. Three years ago (well, three years this last Saturday June 13th) was my accident and I feel so far past it, its almost like it never happened. But it did happen and changed my life for the better overall. Sure I have stuff I deal with that I don't like (such as my job), but I have gained a great deal from the experience that even in this gloomy economy I still feel fortunate. I still have a job. I still have a place to live. I'm going back to school and gaining the skills I need for the career I want to pursue.

Here is another three good years...

They found it via Google Earth and its cool to think there are still areas not fully discovered and cataloged by scientists.

Rainforest

It's official. Last night I started using the "re-education" funds granted to me due to my accident almost 3 years ago.  I feel like its been so much longer than three years with all that has happened in such a short period of time.  So, for the next 12-15 months I won't be around as much because the schooling will be 4 nights a week, 4 hours a night (Mon-Thurs 6-10pm).  Makes for long days, but it will be worth it in the long run.  I'm going for some specific classes which will help me take and pass various certificates, such as the A+, Network+, Linux+ etc which will help prepare me for taking the MCSE if I so wish. Its something I've been wanting to do for years and really excited about the opportunity.

Still working on the house. Its not a lost cause, just an uphill battle as we now have to save up more money than we originally had been told... this all thanks to the housing economy and stricter mortgage rules.   Another year of saving perhaps, but we should be fine even if the housing market has hit bottom. It won't go up too fast to price us out of the market this time.

I was extremely pleased to hear the new Star Trek movie was going to be showing Thursday night (last night) and to find one of the local theaters showing it.   For any of you who like Star Trek this is a MUST see!!  Loved it!  Without giving anything away, it really was a great movie for both those who don't know much about Star Trek and those Trekkers out there like myself.  

One of the things I loved the most was seeing all the great references and nods to the other movies and originally series episodes.  Knowing the "history" of the ST universe definitely made it more enjoyable for me, but at the same time the story itself was solid enough to stand on its own.  I found only one part of the movie slow and at first "pointless" but it did serve as an entry into a character being introduced so it worked. As to be expected, they did at least leave it so there is plenty of opportunity for future movies after this one and I really hope it does well enough this weekend so they will proceed with additional movies.  IMHO this was the next best ST movie after ST: IV The Voyage Home (yeah, the one with the whales).  

I know a few people who are into making their own beer and wine, which I still want to learn how to do as I love the idea of making my own just like making my own bread.  Not to mention, beer and bread aren't that much different in their creation :)

On to the point:  Its just a few months now until the Sonoma County Fair and I'm on a mission to exceed my success last year with the 3rd place I received on my Stollen bread.  I'm still going to submit the stollen, but into the Ethnic food category as it is a German Christmas bread.  We'll see how I do with that.  Also, I've begun testing new Fruit and Nut breads for the category I won 3rd in last year.  I noticed that ALL the recipes last year where all quick breads like Banana Nut bread, so I've begun with finding a unique fruit bread recipe.  Anyone out there that has something you like or that you find which would you unique/different please pass it on!

Here is what I've found so far:

Strawberry Bread
Strawberry Pineapple Bread
Kiwi Bread
Pear Bread
Peach Bread
Apple Bread
Cantalope Bread

I've already made the Strawberry bread and it turned out very well. There were a few things about it that need work, such as more strawberry flavor and making the strawberries smaller so they are more appealing when you cut and see the bread.  Also, finding the right kind of nut to go with Strawberries.  I've had recommendations for Almond, Pecans and Walnuts but I think I want to try Pistachios as I think it would just be perfect. 

I'm also very curious to try both the Kiwi and Cantalope breads, to see if I can make those work.  I'm thinking I may need to puree the fruits, just like you do with zuchinni bread, and its an idea to try with the strawberry bread as well.  

I posted a while ago that the owners of the company I work for know Guy Fieri and had thrown a rather large birthday party for him, which I was sadly not invited too.  However, Guy is always around here (not living very far from where I work) and last night he happened to be here doing burnouts in the Shelby Cobra that he bought from the owner.  Some of my boss' cars can be seen here if you really care (I don't care much, because honestly, I don't see why you'd spend your money on something like cars you'll never drive).

Once the smoke cleared from all the rubber being heated excessively, I walked over to meet Guy. Got a couple of pictures here, and in both pics you'll notice that tire marks on the street.  I guess there was also a photographer out there with Drive magazine which was doing some piece on Guy so if interested you could keep your eyes open for that.

I found this on a friend's Facebook page and just had to share. It's the Obama action figure.

I don't have very vivid dreams often, at least ones that I remember so clearly even after being up for hours.  This one last night had to be induced by it just being a non-routine day.  Got a great lunch quickie yesterday, had a super busy day at work which was both stressful and rewarding, and spent several hours at the vet to FINALLY get the correct diagnose on our cats' ears!  

Anyway, here is the ( The Dream... )

Here you go: Octuplet Mom speaks out

Let me just start off by saying, if God or Nature (or whoever/whatever you believe caused humans to come into being) intended for women to give birth to more than 2 children at a time, then they would be endowed with more than 2 tits. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a woman with 8 tits. As a breast man I'd love a few more tits on a woman, but that's not how they are built so they shouldn't be giving birth to 8 children like some dog with 8 puppies.

( The Long Rant )

Thanks to a Media just looking for the smallest thing to play on people's fears (even if they didn't realize it was a fear), we have articles such as this one which are making Google's new Latitude service sound like its Big Brother ready to swoop down and invade your life regardless of your choice.

( The Rant )