Aack

Library of the Future

I like audiobooks. I spend about 45 minutes a day on the road - minimally. My wife is on the road longer with shuttling kids around the greater Fairbanks/North Pole area. We listen to a lot of audiobooks. We even listen to a lot of the same audiobooks. That's why I like this new service that is being offered by a library near you (except not near me)

I checked out the Guilderland Public Library and am intrigued. Now I got to figure out how to get a NY Bribary card.

Oh, and a device that supports M$ DRM protocol. If they could just figure out an iPod solution. Maybe someday...

Holy Crapper, Batman!

I'm sitting in the classroom of the school we are in on this assignment, when there begins a stir out in the hall. Apparently one of the (larger) pilots decided to settle in in the men's room for some, uhh, personal meditation time. Shortly thereafter several people heard a large crack and then a BANG, followed by some colorful, mmm, meditation chants...

The poor schmuck broke the toilet! I really feel for the guy, but it's still funnier than heck. Talk about a small explosion between the legs!

A Friend's Death

I haven't been able to make any entries because the school we are using as our Incident Command Post (ICP) has been blocking access to my site - tonight it is open...weird.

Last Thursday we found out that one of our co-workers passed away. He had had a triple by-pass about 2 weeks prior and the supposition is that he threw a clot and died of a brain annurism.

He was a goofy guy, and although not close, he was a good acquaintance. We (the folks that knew him here on the fire) wanted to send a card to his family, but seeing as we are on the edge of the known universe there wasn't much we could do. So, I set out to create a card for his family that we all could sign. That was harder than I thought it would be.

I initially had difficulty figuring out the style & content - but that was relatively easy compared to coming up with something to write. I mean, "Our Condolences" just doesn't really cut it - not in a community like fire- or at least not the one I think I'm in. So, not being totally without some poetry skills, I wrote the following. It's not great, but it captures the essence of my feelings as well as the feelings of others here.

I not 100% satisfied with the ending and in fact had several others as alternates, but in the end this is what I decided on.

This, I believe, is my favorite ending:

Knowing someday, we too, will pay that wage.

But it was a bit morose for a berevement card.

Overall, it was a bit weird putting these thoughts down for people that have been at this far longer than I have, but I felt it was the least we could do.