Category Archives: Paul

June 6, 2026 · 23:48

Old Stories, New Updates – June 06th

Jupiter & Venus (upper left) have gotten a bit closer together (closest next  Tuesday, but “close” and spectacular looking for another two weeks or so) but Mercury’s still there just above the roof.

I was hoping to see a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch out of Vandenberg about 45 minutes after these pictures, but never saw a thing. The launch did NOT scrub and went off the pad just fine, it just wasn’t visible here, a hundred miles away, for whatever reason.

But many of the new neighbors got to see me standing out on the sidewalk with multiple tripods and cameras, staring at the sky, so there’s that!

 

On another ongoing front, I went and got my hair gooped up again, blue on port, purple on starboard, starting the third chapter of this wacky adventure.

The bottles said “Strawberry Leopard Teal” and “Arctic Fox Violet Dream” – I don’t know if those are brand names, product names, or both.

Let’s see how long it takes before the inevitable gray takes over again.

 

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Filed under Astronomy, Paul, Photography

June 4, 2026 · 22:44

Yet Another Of Life’s Little Disappointments

I had such high hopes!

Is it not reasonable to assume that the filling would be green? I could let them get away with it not actually glowing, a little artistic license and marketing is allowed. But it’s not green at all, it’s brown.

It tastes pretty much the same as always, but it’s boring and brown.

A month or so ago we had some kind of superhero themed Oreos with blue filling – it made our tongues blue, moved through the intestinal tract, and made things more colorful coming out of the other end. It was FUN!

I was looking for glowing green poop out of this one, but no such luck.

Back to the double stuffed Oreos. If they’re going to be boring and plain, I at least want extra sugar!

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Filed under Paul, Photography

June 3, 2026 · 23:27

Proof Of Life – June 03rd

I have no idea. The photographic equivalent of a butt dial, I don’t know what I pushed or how I was holding the phone or if Siri was taking pictures with or without permission or if the house poltergeist was trying her hand at the photographic arts.

Out of focus. Stressed. About to explode like I’m being cooked from the inside out by a high-powered beam of microwaves.

Sounds about right!

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May 31, 2026 · 23:18

Proof Of Life – May 31st

One of these days a month that’s ending will have been the bottom of the barrel and the new month that’s starting will be the beginning of the recovery, getting better. Right? Isn’t that how it’s GOT to work?

I sincerely hope that May 2026 was the bottom of the barrel. While there were some notable disappointments in the last half of May in particular, in the last couple of days there have been some hopeful (if difficult) trends. The path out of this pit that we’ve dug ourselves into isn’t going to be easy, but we’ve got to start somewhere. Maybe that will be June 2026.

And then maybe July 2026 wil be even better. There might be plans…

In the meantime, keep looking at pretty things. And be brave. I prefer being brave like Samwise Gamgee instead of some dude in armor, but you do you!

And just in case, remember to Set SCE To AUX. Better safe than sorry.

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Filed under Deep Thoughts, Paul, Photography

May 30, 2026 · 23:35

Proof Of Life – May 30th

Given past history, current circumstances, and life, the Universe, and everything, I would suggest that everyone just take a chill pill.

Especially me.

Although the argument could be made that because I’m not panicking more, I don’t understand how bad the problems are.

“Whatevs, man!” as the kids say. (I have no idea what the kids are saying these days. In fact, I didn’t know what the kids were saying when I was a kid and when I had kids.)

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Filed under Health, Paul, Photography

May 20, 2026 · 23:14

No Context For You – May 20th

Nibbled to death by ducks.

No one close to us has died recently, no one in the family has a terminal disease, our house isn’t on fire, so many folks have it so much worse…

And yet.

When every news cycle gets worse, when the bumpy, rough road turns out to be endless, when what should be a shelter turns out to be a prison…

“Never give up, never surrender!” is a great tagline for a movie character, but in real life things are messier.

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May 13, 2026 · 23:43

Proof Of Life – May 13th

Just a little last minute “Hello” – deadline Hell is all consuming at this point

I’m trying to maintain my sense of humor as Mr. Adams would want, but I’m not sure that everyone (i.e., my boss, and his boss) are quite as bemused by the sentiment.

It’s a marathon – don’t think too much, and don’t give up. One foot in front of another until you pass that finish line. And hopefully you didn’t accidentally sign up for a triathalon!

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Filed under Deep Thoughts, Memes, Paul

May 12, 2026 · 23:41

Proof Of Life – May 12th

One piece of good news about something that’s been worrying you can make a world of difference in a day which would otherwise have you seriously questioning all of the life choices that brought you to this point. Thank goodness for that good (-ish) news.

I want to reach a point where “it can’t get any more hectic and stressed,” but the gods take that as a challenge. The joys of home ownership. After being driven partially insane by a beeping noise every 31.6 seconds, I finally tracked it down to a low battery alarm with the battery backup system on the garage door opener. Fine, I know that I’m busier than God, but how hard can this be to open up and replace the battery? (Turns out once you find the helpful YouTube video with this exact same unit, it will be a five minute task. I hope!) But first you have to find out what kind of battery. So I went looking for an online manual, for which I need to know the exact model number, or at least the series. Turns out LiftMaster makes a ton of different models. But I’m stubborn (which is very similar to being pig-headed) so that’s done, the battery’s here, and as soon as I have five minutes I’ll try to get rid of that freakin’ beeping sound. Maybe Saturday? Oh, crap, I’m at a work event all day Saturday. Sunday?

May is one of those months for me. Board meetings and Committee meetings and grant reports and some of our tax returns and licencing reporting are all due. Audit is starting, our community and fundraising events are starting, and it’s DEADLINES A GO-GO!

I need a nap.

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Filed under Forever Home, Paul, Photography

May 8, 2026 · 23:46

A Little Bit Of Slack…

…would be greatly appreciated, Ms. Universe, ma’am. I know that I’m supposed to be keeping my stress levels and blood pressure down, but you’re REALLY not helping here.

The good news about checklists is that they help me to keep organized, or at least I feel like I might be organized and that’s important. The bad news is just how freakin’ LONG those checklists are and how many hours I’m taking every day and just getting one or two things knocked off.

I’m not saying that being ignorant was better (or bliss), but “organized” is harshing my mellow.

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Filed under Paul, Photography, Sunsets

May 7, 2026 · 23:36

Since You Asked…

WARNING – my sense of humor is being let off the leash today, and it’s likely to offend some, so if you’re bothered by gore in classic horror films, maybe I’ll just see you tomorrow.

Bank of America has a new advertising catch phrase, a question, which I had an immediate response to when I first heard it. Now I have to use their app to securely log in every day for work and I see it over and over again.

What would I like the power to do? Easy!

If Bank of America didn’t want my answer, why do they keep asking? So far, no joy on delivery, but there will be signs, particularly in the metro Washington, DC area.

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Filed under Paul, Politics