Amazing blocks

Moving

It is inevitable, we will be moving. I havent finalized the deal yet, but it is looking very positive (95%) I would go with a great company: Traylor Bros. And because a picture is worth a thousand words I will give you a guess... Kinda Spells it out I guess. We will keep you informed, but this is the way its looking.

Nice, Looks like we will become the house everyone crashes when Disneyland is done.

Now I am really narrowing it down...OK I know, These guys aren't in Cali, but you gotta admit they have a sweet logo.

This is all Ive got. Ill need to start working out and working on my tan!

Life - In The FAST LANE

So many people-me most of all-want to live life in the fast lane. The thing about that is you have to be up to the bumps and punishment the road will put to you and your vehicle (a motorcycle if I could have my way...and I will have it some day). You see, the faster you go, the less you see ahead of you. The wind rushing past your eyes, hair; your ears-makes things seem so peaceful in the whirling noise. Going fast requires you to be light and happy, charming and forgiving, willing to bend a little and very patient for those times when some slowdown happens. We are weathering the recent bumps well. Takes time. Keeping busy is good, I send out a lot of resumes no that I got caught in lay-offs. Its a full time job, 40 hours a week. I have lots of interviews each week and we know one will break free eventually. Just waiting for that gap to open so I can punch through. I learn so much when I scratch myself up a bit. In fact, not to long ago I heard that when we really learn we are under a certain level of stress. It helps imprint the lesson. I think those are the kind of scratches I want. Best part of the fast lane is watching my loves-Jamison and Keli. "All I want to do is watch the wind go by..." and most assuredly, "Dont Blink, you just might miss..." As an update: I had a blast snow camping last week. I will post my daring sledding experience soon. The weather has been outstanding here! I love spring. the car is working, thats a plus. Most of the cosmetic stuff in the house is done!! Three cheers for that as well. Moving: WE might be moving back east (New York City), WE might be moving to SoCal or WE might get lucky and stay here in Cowtown. WE are comfortable, so my bet is we are moving-Gotta love the fast lane! Kel and I are happy (Jr is always happy as long as he is eating, playing or destroying). We had a great party with local friends. Just like old times. The grass in the yard looks incredible! Ive put a little time into it, nice to see that pay off. Anyone have an idea of how to help My Little Linebacker (Jamison) enjoy nursery? Wish you the best, hope you are playing more golf **swings arms in a downward stroke** than I am. I should be getting good being home this much. Maybe Ill take a vacation. Best wishes.

Ivan & Boris

I had to post this, this is an article that I feel should be read. Like many of the basic cultural fabrics of our society this is also being torn to shreds piece by piece.  -Mike

Ivan and Boris again  By Thomas Sowell    http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | There is an old Russian fable, with different versions in other countries, about two poor peasants, Ivan and Boris. The only difference between them was that Boris had a goat and Ivan didn't. One day, Ivan came upon a strange-looking lamp and, when he rubbed it, a genie appeared. She told him that she could grant him just one wish, but it could be anything in the world.  Ivan said, "I want Boris' goat to die."  Variations on this story in other countries suggest that this tells us something about human beings, not just Russians.  It may tell us something painful about many Americans today, when so many people are preoccupied with the pay of corporate CEOs. It is not that the corporate CEOs' pay affects them so much. If every oil company executive in America agreed to work for nothing, that would not be enough to lower the price of a gallon of gasoline by a dime. If every General Motors executive agreed to work for nothing, that would not lower the price of a Cadillac or a Chevrolet by one percent.  Too many people are like Ivan, who wanted Boris' goat to die.  It is not even that the average corporate CEO makes as much money as any number of professional athletes and entertainers. The average pay of a CEO of a corporation big enough to be included in the Standard & Poor's index is less than one-third of what Alex Rodriguez makes, about one-tenth of what Tiger Woods makes and less than one-thirtieth of what Oprah Winfrey makes.  But when has anyone ever accused athletes or entertainers of "greed"?  It is not the general public that singles out corporate CEOs for so much attention. Politicians and the media have focused on business leaders, and the public has been led along, like sheep.  The logic is simple: Demonize those whose place or power you plan to usurp.  Politicians who want the power to micro-manage business and the economy know that demonizing those who currently run businesses is the opening salvo in the battle to take over their roles.  There is no way that politicians can take over the roles of Alex Rodriguez, Tiger Woods or Oprah Winfrey. So they can make any amount of money they want and it doesn't matter politically.  Those who want more power have known for centuries that giving the people somebody to hate and fear is the key.  In 18th century France, promoting hatred of the aristocracy was the key to Robespierre's acquiring more dictatorial power than the aristocracy had ever had, and using that power to create a bigger bloodbath than anything under the old regime.  In the 20th century, it was both the czars and the capitalists in Russia who were made the targets of public hatred by the Communists on their road to power. That power created more havoc in the lives of more people than czars and capitalists ever had combined.  As in other countries and other times, today it is not just a question of which elites win out in a tug of war in America. It is the people at large who have the most at stake.  We have just seen one of the biggest free home demonstrations of what happens in an economy when politicians tell businesses what decisions to make.  For years, using the powers of the Community Reinvestment Act and other regulatory powers, along with threats of legal action if the loan approval rates varied from the population profile, politicians have pressured banks and other lending institutions into lending to people they would not lend to otherwise.  Yet, when all this blows up in our faces and the economy turns down, what is the answer? To have more economic decisions made by politicians, because they choose to say that "deregulation" is the cause of our problems.  Regardless of how much suffocating regulation may have been responsible for an economic debacle, politicians have learned that they can get away with it if they call it "deregulation."  No matter what happens, for politicians it is "heads I win and tails you lose." If we keep listening to the politicians and their media allies, we are all going to keep losing, big time. Keeping our attention focused on CEO pay— Boris' goat— is all part of this game. We are all goats if we fall for it.

Time in a bottle

Ever daydream? I used to; I had wonderful adventures fighting, creating, exploring and falling in LAVA. Nah, but really, where has it gone? I will tell you my experience. Real life is so much better; made that way through determination to goals, values, aspirations, and an occasional chocolate (a flavor very hard to duplicate in dreams).  "So look at me now!" mike says to himself melodically-sounding quite odd to his neighboring coworkers I might add. I will tell you something. Wisdom is earned, it grows as we develop; development takes a lot of work. I’m not talking about getting bigger, my waist (or waste) won’t change for the better without some coaxing. My son "develops" grows, learns, explores, yea...even dreams for a whimsical moment before hollering out in dismay for the ___(insert food, toy, or bink here)___ that teeters so close to his fingers reach. When left to himself he amazes us-figuring things out, learning and doing on his own.  We teach, play and love.  He watches imitates everything, repeats what he can, and changes what stuff we put in "place" or "order". (that’s my view of how he goes around making such a tornado-esk mess from room to room) Just a few side notes to this epilogue on my mental state. First side-I don’t have time to daydream anymore!!! I guess I am too busy making my dreams real. I guess it is too much fun touching, feeling, sweating-over, and experiencing my dreams. I am sure when these are accomplished I will have time to dream again. And not just the "new year resolution" type, but the goals. Second-My son really repeats/imitates everything!!! He went to Utah with his mom for a few weeks but before he left he "learned" that kissing involved a tongue. So he would lick me!!! How funny is that? Carrying that thought on...what would our grandmas think of one of those precious little wet ones? ::thought ended-no time for day-dreaming:: We (Keli) taught the little guy better-quickly. Third-practice really makes perfect! This is a true statement of a principle of truth. I try to sit down and look at my goals and aspirations quarterly. I do this on my own. I write them down; review older ones. I revise, revisit, and sometimes redo. Then I try to go over them with my Wifie. This has become more informal, but the more formal we do it, the better we are ate it. So I try to "practice" my daydreaming. Pretty soon I start to talk about it, think about it, learn about it. And then every now and again-I do "it". 3b)Do I practice what I preach, am I practicing my religion? Practice my health, or anything else for that matter? Back to the "mess-maker" we find trailing a few light footsteps behind in the shape of a little one and a half year-old bouncing boy. As we organize our house, he destroys it. I have my dreams and my son well, I found that it is nice when he likes to do what I like too, but it is nicer when i like to do what he likes to do. Usually that is a bigger mess for Keli to pick up, but Jr. learns so much faster and easier when its something he wants and figures out, or is helped out. Pretty cool. Well there is more I could write, if I had the time. I don’t think I really said anything though. Just my thoughts on a blog.

Very funny even if its in german

Note: Blog Updates

Just a note, I have been getting busier now at work so that leaves me less time at play. not to worry, I have found time to update some of my posts and listings. including the sweet video I added showing Adam Scott (UNLV Alumni) wining the last big golf turnament with a fabulous putt. I would like to spend more time to myself on projects and what-have-yous, but as soon as I get home I forget everything else but my family. It si my sons 1 year old birth day. I already got him a present months ago...but he wont get it 'tell he is older. (a georgous Scotty Cameron Tel3 putter with a "limited edition 10" stamp on the sole) Yea, I know...you dont think its the most practical gift, but that is in the eye of the beholder...and it is practicle I tell you. A year though!?! wow, what a trip! I dont photo him like I did the first few months of my fascination, but I think we have this year pretty well documented. He is great: doesnt ask for much, likes his mom & dad, enjoys a little rough housing and I love him. In fact (other than my putter) the only thing better on this earth is my wifie! So adelante prestamos! and hon, i was just kidding about the putter, it could be my headcover that i will be getting. U know, the yellow hula one. ;)

48 footer from former UNLV Alum. Yes thats a Scotty Cameron Putter!

Table Football to the 11th Degree, this table is sweet!

Time for March Madness, bracket - I won the pool

Job Time Lapse Video II

This is another clip of our job time lapse video-different view. For narrative, you are looking at the back side of the site. The steel structure is holding those four big steel "cans" we were able to place them around the structure to save space. (This was critical because we didn’t have any space to work) a huge crane, the largest in the district, lowered the cans onto the structure and then the structure would lower them into a deep shaft. The crane is hidden because of the structure. A smaller white crane came in on the left side, for safety purposes. After that, a truck will appear on the left of the screen, it is a long armed concrete pumping truck spit our concrete into the annulus space between the new and existing shaft liner to hold the "can". I think this is a better video than the one below...little better view. NJOY!!!

This is neeto-cheeto! It just keeps getting better; there's more fun to come.

Job Time Lapse Video

This is a clip of our job time lapse video. I hope this gives you a better understanding of just what we did up in those hills. For narrative, you are looking at a steel structure that has hydraulic jacks with jaws that raise and lower and grab/release. This process was repeated over 33 times to lower those big steel "cans" into a deep shaft. After that, a long armed concrete pumping truck spit our self-made concrete into the annulus space between the new and existing shaft liner. So this is the kind of stuff I do: design, manage, research & above all...make money.

Wasn’t that awesome?!! I have other videos to add later on; I have some great stuff. If you have questions let me know.

Just a Note

Just a note: Tis the season, enjoy this time. Take advantage of an oportunity to serve those in need. About me: My job is all but done...it is snowing up the hill as I write. Keep in touch, I want to get updated email and blog addresses.

Check out my Slide Show!

Job Photos

The Job is amazing, not just the Views, but the work itself. we are placing "liners" into a deep dark hole. the "liners look similar to the green can you see the crane lifting. Last piece Do you like the down view? this is from the top looking down the structure into the deep dark hole.Reminds me of Being an Iron Worker in Utah. Our Job site: Middle Fork Surge Shaft from a helicopter. quite a feat. It took 9 truckloads to bring in the crane alone.

First snow at the Job site.

This PT boat was down the street from the Steel Fabricator.

This is at an ex military base on Mare Island in Vallejo, CA