When I went to work this morning, I just logged off of a working internet connection. When I got home this evening, the connection no longer worked. After spending quite a bit of time on the phone with my provider, the only solution was to re-install the software. It worked (as you may be able to tell), but I really don’t know why it worked. I really don’t know why the connection failed in the first place.

It is a Cell Modem. Open it up, dial the number — Name and password are automatic. I can’t see what went wrong. Neither could the tech person. I think the software reload was grasping at straws. Anyway, I’ve updated to the latest version, so I hope it will be good for a few months.

Oh well, I still got my laundry done today.. I just wish I had self cleaning clothes. And of course permanent press that was actually permanent. Buttons that stayed on new shirts! I wonder why my dark pants (black and blue) seem to shrink more than the browns, tans and beiges. They all started out the same brand and size. For some reason they all seem to shrink in the length.

Today would have been Carol’s 54th birthday.  So many wonderful memories.  I know the last show she saw me in was Idol Night at the Karaoke Place and the character I played which is the same as my blog title.  In the show, my best friend sang my favorite inspirational song made famous by my favorite artist.  The music and lyrics are just perfection.  So for Carol:

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains.

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas.

I am strong when I am on your shoulders.

You raise me up to more than I can be.

And yes, Mr. Groban is very high on my ipod shuffle.  I would consider it a Christian tune as I would many of my favorite songs by Josh.

Happy birthday to One More Angel in Heaven.

It is about time to start looking for the signs of spring in the area. I will have to keep an eye out for the early spring flowers. Some of the bulbs my wife planted years ago are due up as soon as the ground gets a little warm. I’m not sure what they all are, but there are some that will bloom when there is still snow on the ground. A little frost is nothing to these very hearty flowers. Then of course there are the crocuses, daffodils, tulips. Spring wild flowers and others.

By mid March we should start to see the return of the Buzzards. There should be a robin or two soon. Of course the early spring peepers (frogs) when the ice melts off the ponds and creeks. Will we see a Maple Syrup Festival in our little town this year? What about returning ducks landing in the flooded fields? Spring is just around the corner and I am waiting.

Other memories fill my head. Longer days, earlier sunrises are things that make me think of spring. I’ll let you know when I see my first sign of spring.

Yesterday’s post on my foil steamed food made me think of other things with steam. I would guess I’m a fan of Steampunk. From reading Verne and Wells as a child, to watching Wild Wild West when it was on TV, I was always interested in ‘Advanced technology’ in a steam/Victorian setting. I enjoyed the Wild Wild West Movie and League of Extraordinary Gentleman for the same reasons. The old time setting with ‘advanced’ technology.

One of my favorite comics is Girl Genius, and that is Steampunk through and through. And I really would like this computer. If I could work with brass (time/inclination), maybe I could make my own.

The list of Academy Country Music Award nominees was announced today!  And while I’m not entirely in agreement with some of them, that still does not dampen my excitement for the actual awards show – now held in April, which is even earlier than its past May ceremonies.  I’m going to wait to give my picks for winners until we get closer to the show – I need some more time to listen to the artists, their songs, and the buzz surrounding them on country radio.  But I can say that I’m not a big fan of Lady Antebellum, a group who leads the pack in number of nominations.  Uh, oh…  perhaps country music is leaving me behind since I strongly prefer classic country and those modern artists who are seemingly fading into the background such as Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, George Strait, Reba McEntire, Brooks and Dunn, and Rascal Flatts…  I do like Carrie Underwood, but I’m not so crazy for Taylor Swift (cute name though!).  All that being said, I still enjoy the annual extravaganza immensely; especially the live performances.  I am especially excited that unlike the ACM awards autumn counterpart, the CMA awards which are held on Wednesday nights, the spring ACM awards show is held on Sunday evenings – which means that I don’t have to ditch my youth group students, haha!  Here’s the list of nominees; we will find out who wins on April 18, 2010!
Entertainer of the Year:
• Kenny Chesney • Toby Keith • Brad Paisley • George Strait • Taylor Swift • Carrie Underwood • Keith Urban • Zac Brown Band

Top Male Vocalist:
• Kenny Chesney • Brad Paisley • Darius Rucker • George Strait • Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist:
• Miranda Lambert • Reba McEntire • Taylor Swift • Carrie Underwood • Lee Ann Womack

Top Vocal Group:
• Lady Antebellum • Little Big Town • Randy Rogers Band • Rascal Flatts • Zac Brown Band

Top Vocal Duo:
• Brooks & Dunn • Joey + Rory • Montgomery Gentry • Steel Magnolia • Sugarland

Top New Solo Vocalist:
• Luke Bryan • Jamey Johnson • Chris Young

Top New Vocal Duo:
• Bomshel • Joey + Rory • Steel Magnolia

Top new Vocal Group:
• Eli Young Band • Gloriana • The Lost Trailers

Album of the Year:
• “American Saturday Night” – Brad Paisley • “Lady Antebellum” – Lady Antebellum • “Play On” – Carrie Underwood • “Revolution” – Miranda Lambert • “The Foundation” – Zac Brown Band

Single Record:
• “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum • “People Are Crazy” – Billy Currington • “Red Light” – David Nail • “Toes” – Zac Brown Band • “White Liar” – Miranda Lambert

Song:
• “Cowboy Casanova” – Carrie Underwood • “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum • “People Are Crazy” – Billy Currington • “White Liar” – Miranda Lambert • “You Belong With Me” – Taylor Swift

Video:
• “Boots On” — Randy Houser • “Need You Now” — Lady Antebellum • “Welcome To The Future” — Brad Paisley • “White Liar” — Miranda Lambert • “You Belong With Me” — Taylor Swift

Vocal Event:
• “Hillbilly Bone” – Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins • “Honky Tonk Stomp” – Brooks & Dunn featuring Billy Gibbons • “I Told You So” – Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis • “I’m Alive” – Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews • “Seeing Stars” – Jack Ingram featuring Patty Griffin

A while ago I mentioned becoming the national trainer for the photo job I do.  Well, today I talked with the co-owner and the job is finally becoming a reality.  As of this week I am the manager of training, or quality, or something like that.  My new job will involve keeping a single store for photos, but in addition involve filling in for others’ vacations, do quality control on their work, and of course train.  In fact, I will be training someone really soon now to take over two of my stores.  My compensation has also become consistent, no longer dependent on the number of cars I do.  As for traveling, that will come sometime as well- they already have stores in another state, though mostly for those stores they will bring the people here for me to train.

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So what do I mean by the end of an era?  Well, this job has now become full time so that means no more subbing.  Maybe once in awhile (with the co-owner’s blessing I should add) if I want to as long as I get the work done, but for the most part I’m done.  I will drop down to one district I think, probably hometown district and sub maybe once every other week just for the extra cash until the end of the school year.  Or mornings once a week if I can.  I don’t know.  In any event, that means a rebranding for this blog as certainly I won’t be signing up again for next year unless something goes very wrong with this job and so the name no longer works.  I will have to think about a new name though I suspect the URL will remain the same.

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I know I haven’t said this yet, so I will say it now.  In big bold letters:

PRAISE GOD FOR HIS PROVISIONS

AND HIS BLESSINGS!!!

As I’ve mentioned, I read the suburban Chicago newspaper online.  Today a headline about the town where I grew up caught my eye – a kid filmed a short little youtube.com movie in Warrenville, Illinois.  I couldn’t care less about the battle between fans of Star Wars and Star Trek, but I know there are some tangents.org readers who are fans of one or both of the franchises – thought they might enjoy this little video.  It’s a creative idea, really – what would happen if the introductory words at the beginning of the Star Wars movies fell to Earth?  For its small budget (around $100) and the small amount of time invested, the special effects aren’t bad either…

If you’d like more info about the kid or the video, here is a link to the original article.

I think I will try something new and make an occasional post featuring some of the music I listen to.  This will mostly feature Christian artists as it is pretty much what I listen to these days, though who knows?  I might post something retro to my life.  Of course what I post depends on what youtube has to offer- current music seems to be abundant, but older stuff, and probably certain genres, can be hard to come by.  All videos have been posted by other people and may be pulled by youtube at any time.

I think I will start with a Christian artist that has stood out to me in contemporary Christian music: Chris Tomlin.

I probably should put an Amazon link here to appease any industry readers in case you would like to purchase some of this fine music 😀 : Chris Tomlin

Or maybe that is what these so called “reality shows” are all about. I don’t watch but I do like to see the list of celebrities (most of whom I wish would just go away) who are willing to put their “talent” on display for better or worse.. probably the latter.  The talented celebrities for the upcoming cast of Dancing with the Stars defies my sense of logic:

• Pamela Anderson (will we never learn… Boobwatch was over like 20 years ago, right?  We won’t go into the Tommy Lee years.)
• Nicole Scherzinger (best known as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls… not to be confused with Josie and the Pussycats)
• Kate Gosselin (spent too much time talking about her already.  Doesn’t she have 8 kids to raise as a single mother?)
• Chad Ochocinco (the obligatory football figure WR for the Cincinnati Bengals)
• Shannen Doherty (WOW… is there anyone on the list who is actually noteworthy?)
• Evan Lysacek (just won the gold for figure skating… wonder if he’ll be as graceful without the ice)
• Erin Andrews (from the sports sidelines as a reporter to the dance floor)
• Aiden Turner (some soap star from All My Dingbats, I believe)
• Niecy Nash (“Reno 911?”  Nope… never seen it either)
• AND FINALLY…. MY PICK FOR THE SYMPATHY VOTE GARNERED BY CLORIS LEACHMAN A FEW YEARS AGO…. Buzz Aldrin?!.  That is just weird.  John Glenn next year?

I dunno… I wonder who Rod Blagojevich will fare on the new Celebrity Apprentice.

• In an unprecedented move, a new contestant was named that I did not learn of until this morning, the new Bachelor whatever his name is.  For crying out loud!  No wonder I don’t watch.

Okay, who can do a backflip?  Well, can you at least do one with the help of a trampoline?  I can’t either.  How about when driving  a several-ton monster truck?  Say what?  Apparently for the first time ever this stunt has been achieved.  Check out this video:

Maybe if I use the wall I can do it…  Without the truck of course.