June 02, 2008
Good by Chancellor Vanderhoef
For all the cool stuff he seems to have done, the prick wouldn't even once come out to listen to us Halloween carol him.
I think that will always be my image of the man: someone so longing for bourgeoisie respectability that he completely ignored all the cool grass-roots stuff that the students were doing.
Then again: this same criticism was leveled at Clark Kerr. Kerr was one of the greatest Chancellor's in UC history, and helped build the entire system-- including the CACCs. Perhaps in time I'll come to appreciate all that Vanderhoef has done for my now-Alma Mater. In the mean time, I hope we'll be able to get rid of the sports teams he nearly single-handedly built.
Posted by Andrew at 03:37 PM | Comments (0)
May 14, 2008
Congratulations sweetie!
As I type this my Girlfriend is taking the last final of her college career. Today is the first day of the rest of her life. Wish her well in the comments below :)
Posted by Andrew at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)
April 26, 2008
Over the river...
Off to have a very California Weekend-- camping and sun and Santa Cruz. Enjoy yourselves while I'm out...
Posted by Andrew at 05:16 PM | Comments (0)
November 22, 2007
Minor head wound
Posting will resume in a couple days.
Posted by Andrew at 07:21 AM | Comments (0)
May 18, 2007
Just got my Diploma today!
Despite having been out of school for 14 months, I just got my diploma today. Apparently, I did a double minor: religion and history. Who knew? Anyway, I'm a happy man...
Posted by Andrew at 09:06 PM | Comments (0)
May 11, 2007
37.5hrs in DC
Washington District of Columbia is a wonderful berg. It is the capitol of the most powerful nation on Earth—a nation which developed an entire continent. Everywhere you go there is a little plaque saying "something happened here". It has history all out of proportion to its size...
Historical note: the bits Northern Virginia that we think of as being "part" of DC (Arlington Cemetery, the Pentagon) were once part of DC. I find it amusing that the District is reclaiming its own...
Did I mention history? Even some of the monuments have monuments on them—Here’s one denoting the building in which the US/Canadian border was fixed. Over there, on the Lincoln Memorial, you will find a plaque showing where MLK JR spoke. Perfect...
I spent a lot of time complaining about the weather. Until I met a man who had done his duty in Korea. Apparently, Korea is even more humid than Hawaii, and temperatures can fluctuate between 85F and 0F in a single 24hr period. I still don’t know how do deal with humidity, though. I’m just trying to shut up about it...
I am definitely a California boy. There were lots of black people. And white people. But there wasn’t anyone else. I didn’t see any Americans who were not either black or white. Where were all the Hispanics? Chinese? Japanese? Indians? Similarly, while I heard a lot of people speaking other languages, I didn’t hear many people speaking English with a foreign accent. I did hear a bunch of US Southern, Midwest, and North-East accents-- “Old America”, rather than “New America”, to play with Rumsfeld's phrase. It wasn’t bad, just different...
One other note, while I’m on the subject. A Secret Service member told me that if I wanted a White House tour, I would A) need to sign up 6 months in advance, and B) talk to my congressman. I snapped at him, and I don’t think he knew why. His implication that only men were in Congress rankled—In my decade of voting, I’ve only ever cast 1 vote for a male congressional candidate. I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sure it was just a linguistic tick in the way he was raised. Still, his use of language delegitimized—even somewhat—my choices in congressmembers...
The Constitution and Declaration and Magna Charta are as grand as I recall. I kind of get how Christians feel about seeing the Shroud of Turin...
I wasn’t there for pleasure, however. I had an interview to attend. It went well, I think. I start on 21 May...
Posted by Andrew at 12:50 PM | Comments (0)
April 02, 2007
Passover
After +10 years of having half my family being Jewish, I finally attended a Seder this weekend. Of course, it was with my GF's family, rather than my own...
The meal is about symbolically recalling the days when the Jews lived in Egyptian captivity, and the idea is to specifically feel the injustice of slavery as though it were a living presence in your own life. Through that, you are called to empathy for all people who currently injustice, and reminded that you, yourself, ought to be an agent of change...
This is exactly as depressing as Easter-- not at all. We are reminded that amidst suffering, there is life. Sweet food and sweet wine, frequent toasting and sharing of stories symbolically and actually tell us that life is a gift from G-D. Dayenu!
I have said before that if I were to go monotheistic, I'd go Jewish. Seder has reconfirmed that sentiment...
Posted by Andrew at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)
March 05, 2007
Happy Birthday to me!
Posted by Andrew at 07:16 PM | Comments (0)
January 13, 2007
Odd Question
I am perfectly happy walking around it socks and nothing else. Yet putting on my socks before putting on my underwear seems unnatural. Why is that?
Posted by Andrew at 11:58 AM | Comments (0)
January 01, 2007
Hello World!
Today is the first day of 2007. I resolve to make this the best damned year I've had so far. No idea how I'll go about that, though...
What are your resolutions?
Posted by Andrew at 08:56 AM | Comments (0)
December 22, 2006
Oh Santa! where art thou?
This Slate article on Being Santa Claus gets nearly every detail wrong. I know, because for two years, I was Santa...
Once upon a time, I was seeing a girl who was doing some holiday work at the local mall. In my then-usual all-black, chains-and-knives-dangling-from-my-sides attire, I met her for lunch. It was when heading back to the parking lot that I passed by the Santa booth. Being a major Sci-Fi geek, I had a sudden mental image of how cool it might be to play an elf, and asked if they were hiring...
"Wouldn't you rather be Santa" asked the cute young girl in a small skirt?
no, I want to play an elf. but I need the money "Sure. If you're hiring for Santa, who wouldn't?"
10 minutes later I was in a Santa suit with an 8 year old kid on my knee saying "Ho Ho Ho". I had a blast...
Posted by Andrew at 10:02 AM | Comments (0)
August 31, 2006
And... We're back...
Sorry for the interruption folks. We're back online as of today...
Posted by Andrew at 09:17 PM | Comments (0)
w00t!
First paycheck just arrived. It’s one dollar less than I’d estimated it to be. It’s also the largest I’ve ever received, roughly 4x the amount I was getting at B&N...
Posted by Andrew at 10:40 AM | Comments (0)
August 27, 2006
Moments of transition
Yeah... so I can’t not blog. No, this won’t be a political post; it somehow seems wrong to use LiveJournal for political reasons. President Bush still sucks, if you couldn’t guess that my opinion hasn’t changed. It’s the anniversary of Katrina, and Bush ought to be impeached in celebration...
But enough of that. I had a great weekend. Got to see my favoritist hunny bunny (who will shoot me a dirty look for using that particular name). We spent some quality time snuggling, watching movies, and window shopping. I found myself a new aftershave, she got one hell of a massage—no, not from me...
Sunday I got my cat back! A friend of mine had been taking care of him for the last few months while I got my living situation under better control. He is wandering the house right now, trying to get his smell on everything. This place is truly home now...
On, and one more thing: I am back to using Librarything. I deleted my old entries—Too many of the catalogued books were stolen from me by a certain EX someone. I’ve only done a few so far—under a hundred. However, if you want to search my library, feel free:
(Does LiveJournal not allow Javascript? If not, take a look here)
I just randomly book the books on my shelf, and randomly pulled them off to catalogue them. Which means what I’ve got now is actually a fairly good sample of the sorts of books I read—assuming I remember my statistics at all well. I think I even have a large enough sample size to be relevant...
If you’ve got a librarything of your own, or put one up in the near future, let me know. I’m curious what you’re reading...
You want some Cat pics? You’ve got ‘em...
Posted by Andrew at 10:24 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2006
life stuff
As you may recall: I was living in Davis California; a recent graduate and broke. How broke, do you ask? I’d lost 40lbs because I couldn’t afford more than 2 meals a day. Granted, I _needed_ to lose the weight, but...
Well, I found myself a job. It’s not in politics, but I will no longer have to steal my roommate’s peanut butter as sustenance. Anyone who wants to tell me that minimum wage doesn’t need to go up is free to tell me so. But I digress. I’ve also moved from San Francisco to Davis...
The move was fraught with peril 
. We had a pair of sickouts, and my father isn’t exactly in his top physical form anymore. The hour and a half wait for U-Haul to send a repair crew didn’t help matters all that much. Nonetheless, when I hit SF, I had a full crew...
In some respects, the move wasn’t very far 
. I went from commuting between California and Davis, to commuting to California and Davis. The work itself isn’t intrinsically satisfying, but working for the SLA has it’s rewards—even if none of them are a red beret. At least I work with people who understand that joke. Or perhaps its simply that they find it funnier than most...
Speaking of things that haven’t changed much—during the time I refer to as my Exile, John Weidner of Random Jottings was kind enough to send me a good many pictures of the SF Bay. Well, I no longer need those pictures on my desktop, because of the view from my window 
. It’s 18 floors up in the financial district, and the view is phenomenal! If only my camera phone were of higher quality...
Oh, and you have have heard rumors about me and a certain woman? Well... things seem to be going fairly well. Also, First SLA paycheck on Thursday, expect more regular blogging then...
Posted by Andrew at 10:00 PM | Comments (0)
August 20, 2006
Startrek quiz thingie
Your results:
You are Will Riker
| At times you are self-centered but you have many friends. You love many women, but the right woman could get you to settle down.  |
Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Test
Posted by Andrew at 01:13 PM | Comments (0)
August 11, 2006
End of an Era
Today is my last in the Sacramento/Davis area. Tomorrow morning at 8am, I’ll be moving back to the Bay Area...
This experience has been good to me. I have learned the limits of what I can do and who I ought to be. In addition to my more formal training in my chosen field, I have learned to give others the autonomy they need. Not that I’m not still arrogant—but I’m no longer an arrogant prick...
This time, this place, this journey—it has been good and useful and necessary. I have done everything I’ve said I wanted to do: Got the degree, managed a campaign, made some friends, didn’t make enemies—hell! I’ve even lost some weight...
It’s been Exile. I’ve been cut off from friends, family and every resource I have had access to. Building new friendships and gathering new resources has told me much about who I am. Not all of it has been good. I’ve been working on those issues, however...
Thank you Davis. Thank you Sacramento. I have learned the lessons you’ve taught me. I’ve become the man I could become from where I started. I’m ready to go back home. I may well return some day, ready to learn new lessons. But it won’t be Exile...
Posted by Andrew at 12:13 PM | Comments (0)
August 07, 2006
That's right, baby, number 10!
Go Aggies!
Posted by Andrew at 01:24 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
August 04, 2006
Silly Quiz...
| How to make a andrewcory |
| Ingredients: 3 parts competetiveness 3 parts silliness 3 parts beauty |
| Method: Layer ingredientes in a shot glass. Serve with a slice of caring and a pinch of salt. Yum! |
Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com
Posted by Andrew at 08:47 AM | Comments (0)
July 19, 2006
Status? Green
Apartment: trash free.
Dishes: washing.
Cloths: drying as I type...
Posted by Andrew at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
June 26, 2006
Riker baby!
Your results:
You are Will Riker
| At times you are self-centered but you have many friends. You love many women, but the right woman could get you to settle down. |
Click here to take the "Which Star Trek character are you?" quiz...
Posted by Andrew at 12:00 PM | Comments (1)
June 06, 2006
Quiz!
 | You scored as D'Artagnan. You are D'Artagnan, the brash Gascon who embodies the high ideals of the Musketeer. You are sometime your own worst enemy, but your motives are pure and your character is unimpeachable. You are destined for great things and passionate (though often ill-fated) love.
Which Dumas character are you? (pics) created with QuizFarm.com |
Posted by Andrew at 12:07 PM | Comments (0)
May 09, 2006
An Explanation:
In a universe of entropy, and with a biology that cannot photosynthesize, but must put forth exertion in order to meet basic physiological needs, and a society organized so as to use money as a device store labor-- I need a new job...
It isn’t, you understand, that I don’t have a job. Nothing has changed at my book gig. What’s changed is where I am. I have a degree so new that the governor hasn’t signed it yet, but it’s time to make that piece of paper work for me as hard as I worked for it. And Craigslist doesn’t seem to be listing for "progressive lobbyists"...
So if you stare forlornly at your RSS feed, wondering where, oh wear the punning pundit has gone, rest assured: you’re not hearing from me here because I am struggling to be heard where I will do more good...
Posted by Andrew at 11:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 19, 2006
2006 April 15 Haircut, after
what a difference
Before
Posted by Andrew at 12:39 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
March 05, 2006
On this day in history:
In 1978 I was born.
Posted by Andrew at 11:04 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 10, 2006
Um Now what?
Shit. I had someone who was going to move in and cover half the rent. This seems to have fallen through. I have 3 days to come up with US$500 or be evicted....
FUCK FUCK FUCK!
Posted by Andrew at 12:43 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 02, 2006
New year, fresh Hard Drive.
To celebrate the end of 2005 and the beginning of 2006, I am Reformatting my Hard drive. If you don’t hear from me for a while, you’ll know why...
Posted by Andrew at 05:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 05, 2005
Priest, perhaps...
Your magical style is Priestess.
What type of magic should you practice? Take the Magical Style Quiz by Paradox
Posted by Andrew at 08:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 01, 2005
If life were magic:
What’s yours look like?
Posted by Andrew at 03:34 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 01, 2005
41 baby!
Top 500 World Universities (1-100)
My School (UC Davis) is #41. Take that Rutgers State!
Posted by Andrew at 09:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 29, 2005
Postmoderism- HO!
You are a Revisionist Historian. You are the Clark
Kent of postmodernists. You probably want to
work in a library or in social services. No
one suspects you of being a postmodernist...
until they read your publications!
Posted by Andrew at 05:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 27, 2005
27 damnit! I am 27...
| You Are 30 Years Old |
 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax. |
Posted by Andrew at 11:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 21, 2005
I guess
I took this quiz twice and got the same answer. The thing is, I hate Yoda, blaming him for the downfall of the republic. Perhaps that the lesson...
Posted by Andrew at 01:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 16, 2005
Harvest Fest
If you ever have the chance to hang out with John and Charlene Weidner, I highly recommend you do so. You’d never know it to read his blog, but John is possibly the most mild-mannered man on Earth; I expect he’d be calm if he were trapped in a burning building-- and he himself were on fire...
Charlene provides a nice contrast to this. I hope she had as much fun yelling at me as I did yelling at her...
Anyway, if you get the chance to hang out with them, I recommend taking it. If you get the chance to hang out with them on your way to Dave Trowbridge’s place... it’s worth the trip. Good people, good food-- imagine a party in a Heinlein book, but without the gratuitous nudity and sans the orgy. But with just about as many writers. A good time...
Posted by Andrew at 11:50 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 28, 2005
Me Politically, apparently
I do tend to think this has me pegged a bit low on the capitalist scale.
| You are a Social Liberal (86% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (36% permissive) You are best described as a:
Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test |
Posted by Andrew at 11:20 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 18, 2005
Go Aggies!
Stanford stunned by UC Davis in Harris' home opener
"We always felt confident," Smith said. "I don't know what they said at halftime, but we just saw that small opening and it was enough. ... I knew if we got the ball back in our desperation offense, we could make the plays. It seemed like we always do."
Posted by Andrew at 02:22 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 02, 2005
Like a mushroom,
I’m a fungi
The Ham |
CLEAN | SPONTANEOUS | LIGHT Your style's mostly goofy, innocent and feel-good. Perfect for parties and for the dads who chaperone them. You can actually get away with corny jokes, and I bet your sense of humor is a guilty pleasure for your friends. People of your type are often the most approachable and popular people in their circle. Your simple & silly good-naturedness is immediately recognizable, and it sets you apart in this sarcastic world. PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Will Ferrell - Will Smith |
 |
|
My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on Ok Cupid |
Posted by Andrew at 05:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 24, 2005
Testing, testing...
If you can see this, we’re back up and running. If you can’t see this, why are you reading it?
Update:
Now, if I can figure out how to get the archives back, we’re golden...
Posted by Andrew at 11:06 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
June 25, 2005
Off the tourist-book pleasures:
One of the great pleasures of Maui (and all of Hawaii) is ASPCA shelters. You see; all animals going into Hawaii are quarantined. This means that there is no real danger to animals actually on the islands; rabies is unknown there. This allows the ASPCA to put all their cats into a single room...
Can you imagine the simple joys of being in a room full of kittens? If not, you probably need a vacation! Yes, I damned near took a little one home...
Posted by Andrew at 10:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 24, 2005
The umpire rules it:
Safe at home!
Maui was warm...
It also has some of the best food Ive ever had. We Bay-Areans think we have food from all over the world. And we do. But Maui actually seems able to blend everything into one cultural phenomenon. This might have something to do with the fact that the native food (Taro) is a testimony to the human will to live...
Posted by Andrew at 11:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 17, 2005
Vacation Alert!
So, I am going off to Hawaii for the week. I should be back next Saturday. What this means for you is that I wont be posting anything. Also, if you know me personally, you get to think about me in a bathing suite...
Yes, I said suite, I meant suite. Had I meant suit, I would have typed it...
Posted by Andrew at 10:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 03, 2005
In case you�re interested:
I got an 85 on my latest statistics midterm!
Given the number of times Ive not-passes this class, thats a pretty big thing. Of course, I have a few more days until the final, and then well know...
Posted by Andrew at 11:49 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
June 01, 2005
Bill Baby!
Posted by Andrew at 12:47 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 16, 2005
Studying, studying...
ErisianSolipsist: and I think many understand that markets are man-made
ErisianSolipsist: hence their willingness to modify
Punmeister123: hm
ErisianSolipsist: I think Rawls is saying that we should only agree to rules that include proper safty nets
Punmeister123: *nods*
ErisianSolipsist: we can play cards, but not for fingers
Punmeister123: *snort*
Yeah...
ErisianSolipsist: Hayek seems to be willing to bet a few fingers
Punmeister123: heh.
Probably just your hair.
Punmeister123: nozick is willing to bet your dick, though.
ErisianSolipsist: and doesn't see how you can play cards without doing so
Punmeister123: Right!
ErisianSolipsist: I like this analogy
Punmeister123: I'm blogging it...
Posted by Andrew at 12:03 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 15, 2005
Annoyingly accurate...
| Rh...Rhodium You scored 43 Mass, 56 Electronegativity, 65 Metal, and 10 Radioactivity! |
You know exactly how the world should be, and you don't well-tolerate deviations from your ideals. You have spheres of friends arranged in decreasing importance to you with decreasing proximity... your core group of which almost never changes. You can be described as imperious, and you demand without words that people fit into their prescribed place in your universe... and it is YOUR universe. You are intransigent in beliefs, but you still will just as likely exclude the misguided from your grace as destroy them. Granted it is a very well-ordered universe, and were everyone to just do what you said it would all work very well.... |
 |
My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Which Chemical Element Am I Test written by effataigus on Ok Cupid |
Posted by Andrew at 01:49 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 11, 2005
Want
Lego Death Star II Coming Soon : Gizmodo
Posted by Andrew at 12:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 09, 2005
Eris calls home one of her own.
So yesterday we got a call from my brother (he lives in the same co-op) telling us that Matt had been in a really bad motorcycle accident and was in the hospital. For most of today I was trying and failing to maintain an air of hope, which shattered when I received word this evening that he had died from his wounds. It hurts.
Blankety blankety blank.
Posted by Andrew at 02:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 20, 2005
Expletive deleted
I finished the game I had been playing (Master of Orion 3)
I finished my book (To Reign in Hell)
I don't get to go buy a new book for another several hours until the bookstores open.
Now what?
Posted by Andrew at 12:05 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
January 05, 2005
Legoland update:
Im back. Ive had classes. Sorry about the lack of Social Security posting. I know youre all extremely disappointed...
However, I can report 2 pieces of news:
1) I got This) While I was down there. Granted, now that means I need This and a Lego Snoopy, but...
2) I got back together with my Ex Girlfriend. Sorry ladies...
Posted by Andrew at 08:03 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
January 01, 2005
Happiest place on Earth
Ok, kids, I am heading down to San Diego for some pre-quarter LegoLand goodness. Have fun while Im away...
Yes, youll probably get a post on social security reform, assuming my hotel has such modern conveniences as The Internet...
Posted by Andrew at 01:39 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
December 28, 2004
Bitch test
I AM 25% ASSHOLE/BITCH!  I may think I am an asshole or a bitch, but the truth is I am a good person at heart. Yeah sure, I can have a mean streak in me, but most of the people I meet like me. |
Posted by Andrew at 03:33 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 21, 2004
Youve probably been wondering
where Ive been these last few days. Elections, baby. I just cant get enough. I had to do something between the US Presidential elections and the Iraqi elections, and what could be more fun than School Elections?
So, I signed on with This Group for the duration. The Forces of Darkness (Student FOCUS and LEAD) were arrayed against us. The Davis College Republicans had a phone bank operation to get one of their own in. A phone bank for a college election for gods sake! (By the way: never ask a college republican if theyve been inside Karl Roves Secret Volcano Lair. Republicans have no sense of humor about these things.) Student Focus illegally campaigned in the dorms. LEAD, well LEAD wanted to give away wireless broadband to the entire city-- regardless of the fact that we are about to be audited by the IRS...
The bad guys out organized us, out cheated us, and out stupided us. We learned an important lesson: its harder to mobilize a base of Stoners, slackers, and hippies than it is to get the frosh and Jocks out to vote. But if Grad students could vote, we woulda won...
Anyway, next time, we are thinking of running candidates on a new slate: Citizens Helping Energize Aggie Thought
Posted by Andrew at 11:16 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 07, 2004
Funky
Ok, Ive cleaned my kitchen, my living room has nothing non-sanitary in it, the garbage is tossed, there are no flowers in my apartment: what is that funky odor in my living room? I dont want to cover it up, I want it gone. Thoughts?
Posted by Andrew at 09:02 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
November 02, 2004
Public Service Announcement
To my Darling Sister: Happy birthday
What? Is there something _else_ happening today?
Please leave her a birthday wish Below...
Posted by Andrew at 11:17 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
October 26, 2004
Oh for the sake of the gods!
So, my school makes us register for our new classes at certain-- assigned-- times. My timeslot is 6:30pm
2 November at 6:30pm. Which means just as the new election returns are starting to filter in, Ill have to run over and register for class...
Youd have thought they wouldnt have given this slot to a Poli-sci major...
Posted by Andrew at 04:06 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
October 22, 2004
Master!
So, my good friend Dazed_and_Confucius has his masters degree. Congratulations!
Just one more step before you have to cut that hair and get a real job...
Posted by Andrew at 01:39 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 14, 2004
The Official Obituary
I just learned more about my grandfather by reading his obit than I did in the 25+ years I knew him...
(Names [xxx]ed to preserve my own anonymity...)
[XXX], Tony Joseph - Of Lodi, passed away Saturday, October 9, 2004, in aLodi hospital, at the age of 86. Mr. [XXX] was born July 6, 1918 in SF, CA, to Joseph and Patrina [XXX]. Mr. [XXX] was a third-generation fisherman. He owned and operated his fishing vessel the "Ricky," fishing off the northern California Coast from SF's Fisherman's Wharf down to Morro Bay. He later worked at the SF shipyards as well as Bremington Shipyards in Washington State before retiring in 1986. Mr. [XXX] was a United States Army and WWII veteran. He enjoyed bowling, gardening, making handmade hammocks and scoop nets for his friends. He will be best remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Mary [XXX] of Lodi; son, Richard [XXX] and wife, Marcie of San Ramon; brother, Jim [XXX] and wife, Lenore of Lincoln, CA; two grandchildren, [XXX] [XXX] and Jessica [XXX] both of Sacramento; nieces, Marsha Valdez of Wallace; Donna Thomas of Lodi; and numerous other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by son, Dan Ansaldi in 1999. A Graveside Service will be held Friday, October 15, 2004, 11:00 am at the Cherokee Memorial Park Cemetery. A Rosary will be said Thursday 7:00 pm at the Lodi Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Thursday 12:00 - 8:00 pm at the Lodi Funeral Home. A virtual register book may be signed at www.lodifuneralhome.com where memories may be shared.
Posted by Andrew at 09:22 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
October 10, 2004
My grandfather.
I am precisely the wrong person to eulogize my Grandfather. Despite being named for him (the name I use on this blog is a pseudonym), I knew him but poorly...
This isnt entirely my fault. He was a gruff man, and hard of hearing. This combination made it hard to get to know him. I know little of his history, not even if he was born in this country. It occurs to me that I dont even know what year he was born. I do know that he fought for it, when the time came. And the government Dropped the bombto save his life. That life ended yesterday...
And so, little of his life that I know, it falls upon me to use this space to store the little of his life that I do know. The man could grow plants. What his secret was, Ill never know, but the man had a green, green thumb. Gods, he would get oranges the size of a pair of my fists! Before he retired, he built (I believe) boats up in Seattle. Quite possibly for These guys. Before that, he fished in the SF bay.
He was married to my grandmother for less than a year, I am told, before they divorced. Something about her not washing or caring for his socks properly. She was pregnant at the time. I am unsure when he left San Francisco, but believe it was after my Father was grown. He moved back to California when he retired. Somewhere in there, he remarried...
I remember hearing his voice on an answering machine, and realizing that his voice sounded the same as mine on an answering machine. I remember his fumbling attempts to converse. I remember his failing health, and his attempts to end the effort to save him. I remember him being too weak even for that to work.
Goodbye Grandfather. I wish I could have gotten to know you better...
Posted by Andrew at 11:01 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
August 05, 2004
Proletariat Blues
So, in addition to my work at Barnes and Nobles bookstore, I am also an unproud employee of SunMart Inc. they run my local Arco Gas Station. Who says the Bush economy isnt producing any jobs?
SunMart is evil. I dont have time right now to get into the full evilness of the company (I have to run to my _other_ job), but until I can give you a full report, let me leave you with this thought: what kind of company fears letting its employees having calculators?
Posted by Andrew at 02:39 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 08, 2004
Quiz Time!
Posted by Andrew at 10:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 25, 2004
Latin.
So, when all was said and done, I had over 2 Megs of Latin homework. By way of comparison, all my other papers over the last 3 quarters have come to a combined 1.5 Megs...
Posted by Andrew at 12:00 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 17, 2004
I passed Latin!!!
Not by much, mind. But I eked out my C-. This means I never again have to study a language...
I think I'm going to ritually burn all my remaining papers, tests, homework assignments and notes...
Posted by Andrew at 11:49 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
May 16, 2004
Getting to know me (pt 2). Getting to know all about me (redux)...
I am making this (seven hundred and) first post so as to get a better handle on who I am in the world. I am using the same question list as I used originally. With, I should think, some follow ups. You can read the first one here It should also serve, in the future, as FAQ list.
Question 1a) What is your name?
Andrew Cory
Question 1b) Is that a pseudonym?
Well, it is a real name. But no, my parents didn't give it to me...
Question 2) What is your quest?
I won't even dignify that with a response...
Question 3) Does it ever annoy you that Microsoft doesn't recognize your last name as being a "real" name and puts that hazy red line under it?
That seems a bit odd for a person to ask, but it isn't too personal, so: Yep sure does annoy me. But what are you gonna do?
Question 4) Why should I bother reading this blog?
I've said some things which I think interesting. Hopefully you too find them interesting. Also, I ooze sexiness and charm, so that helps...
Question 5) What is your background?
I am 26, (only fourteen more years until I am as old as president Bush was when he declared his childhood to be over) and am attending a huge sprawling campus in the middle of nowhere in California. Actually, it's just outside the state capitol, but in CA, that doesn't mean much...
In my time, I've both hugged and chopped down more than one tree. I've ripped the roof off a building, and known the carnal love of many an evil woman of high repute. Also, I've lobbied congress, spent a summer bumming around N. California, played Santa Clause, built my own computer, and edited a newspaper. I've done other stuff too, but can't think of them right now...
Question 6) So, what are you studying?
Political Science. Hopefully I will get to law school some day. Because America needs another lawyer...
I've spent the last year studying Latin. No, I am no good at it, but it keeps me occupied...
Question 7) Anything else?
Well, I was part of my former school's Student Government for a while so I have a bit of experience being part of an administrative organization. Also, I once worked for SBC. I have plenty of experience being a corporate tool for the man...
Question 9) What's up with all the ellipsis?
Just the way I write. It is something of an homage to Herb Cane. He used to use a paragraph break followed by * * * and then a paragraph break at the end of his snippets of thought to denote that he was moving to a new though. I've always been a city boy...
Question the 10th) What happened to Question 8?
I decided that it was too good a question, and I should hold it for the end. The ancient Greeks (Romans too!) did this with words, so I feel justified...
Question 11) And your thoughts on the current Ms America?
Erm. When I wrote this, she was a Harvard babe. Now, I have no idea...
Question12) Is this the tone you intend to take with your blog?
Not sure yet. We shall see...
Question 8) If you had just one thing to say to all those undecided voters in your district, the one message that you think they need to hear so they will vote for you, what would it be?
No, no, that's my question to someone else, and I posted it a long time ago....
Question 13) I thought you were ending with Question 8?
Right, well, cheating gets me better odds...
Question 14) And that wasn't a very good question!
Neither was question 14. Hell, 14 wasn't even a question...
Question 15) Can we see a pic?
Sure!
(Clicky to enlargey)
(yes, those are legos I am standing next to...)
Posted by Andrew at 12:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 09, 2004
Posting may be light...
So, its official, I'm single. No, I won't go into details: the only way I can be fair to her is to not even begin. I don't want to be fair, mind (If I did, we probably wouldn't be breaking up), but she reads this thing, and lives here...
It has been a fairly amicable breakup so far; of course she still lives here, so the gods alone know how well it will continue to go. I dunno. We were together for over a year. This hurts an awful lot...
Posted by Andrew at 02:53 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
April 22, 2004
Not for the squeamish.
Yesterday, I gave blood. Ordinarily I don't let strangers make holes in my skin. Not, at least, without a lot of attempting to dissuade them. But I've always been a sucker for anything like civic duty, so off I went...
No matter what they say, giving blood isn't fun. The most attractive nurses in the world seem to have been paradropped into campus just to make the whole thing more attractive than it otherwise would be. The cookies and doughnuts don't hurt either. None of which changes the fact that strangers are sticking holes in my arms...
So I get up there, fill out the questionnaire: "have you-- since 1977-- been a male who has had sex with another male?" "Do you have aids?" "ever used cocaine?" "do you wish we could just teleport the blood right out of your body?" The answers, of course, are "no" "no" "no" and "yes". Of course, they didn't ask the last one...
After they ask these questions, an unattractive nurse (see, they have me now, so they don't have to use sex appeal to keep me) leads me over to a couch, takes my blood pressure, (incidentally, does higher blood pressure mean that the blood comes out faster?) and sticks a needle in my vein...
Or, should I say "tried to stick a needle in my vein"? Perhaps it would be fairer to say that she "grazed my vein with a needle". So, my left arm now has a nice bruise on back of the elbow. Please don't think I am a drug user...
Eventually, she managed to stick the needle in the other arm-- successfully. So I did my duty, grabbed some lunch afterwards, and went on my merry way...
Posted by Andrew at 03:09 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 25, 2004
Bragging...
Call me a braggart. I just wanted to announce to the world that as of today, I have been dating the same wonderful woman for an entire year. You can't have her, she's mine...
Posted by Andrew at 01:11 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 14, 2004
Misc
Why have I been posting so much in the lasts several days? Two reasons.
1) I just started using an RSS reader RSS Bandit. So I'm able to do a much better job managing my information. This is also why I have been commenting on several blogs more often...
2) 10-12 page paper. Topic: Pagan influence of Early Christian Holidays. Dull, dull, dull. But it keeps me in front of my computer...
Posted by Andrew at 05:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 11, 2004
Nolo Condendere
Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant!
"May barbarians invade your personal
space!"
You are highly confrontational and possibly in a
bad mood. You would have sworn in this quiz,
if I had made it an option.
Which Weird Latin Phrase Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Fun with Latin!
(though I would have put invado in the passive...)
Posted by Andrew at 05:52 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 05, 2004
Aniversaries.
This day in history:
Stalin Died.
The British shot a handful of proto-American in what would be known as the "Boston Massacre"
I was born.
Posted by Andrew at 10:03 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 31, 2004
Co-habitation reds Pt. II
Part one can be found here
With lots of squeezing and pushing and shoving, we finally managed to get all our Sci-Fi onto one book case. That was probably the single biggest assortment of books we had.
"Now I can't tell whose Heinlein is whose" her...
Should we maybe forget about organization for this one section?" me...
Now we just need to get our non-genre fiction and non-fiction into one grouping, and we'll be set..
Posted by Andrew at 12:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 27, 2004
Which one are you?
Posted by Andrew at 03:45 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 24, 2004
Sluggy Freelance!
Which Sluggy Freelance Character Are You?
Posted by Andrew at 02:53 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 18, 2004
Retirement.
So, my girlfriend and I were discussing retirement. She thought Hawaii might be nice. I was thinking the moon...
Perhaps someday NASA will let us compromise...
Posted by Andrew at 02:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 03, 2004
Co-habitation Reds
Well, "Blues" doesn't seem right; I am loving living with my S/O quite a bit. If there's another color that would tend towards getting that point across better, please drop a comment...
Anyway, as I was chatting with my Girlfriend yesterday about household stuff, I said "let's mingle our books"
She got a shocked look on her face.
"What" Said I "do you not think we are ready to have our books on the same shelves, organized in together?"
"Well, I don't know. I mean, its such a big step"
"Its just that I don't plan on ever again needing to buy a book you already own. If you think the same way, why don't we just organize our books into one collection?"
Good gods! We are such book people...
Posted by Andrew at 07:09 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 02, 2004
Back from Vacation.
As a friend of mine said recently:
I was commenting to someone, I think Gina, that talking to you is like having a normal conversation, except also there's a news ticker down at the bottom.
Punmeister123: heh.
HCase11235: "Dude, RotK was awesome! --26,500 Die In Iran Earthquake--" etc.
Posted by Andrew at 11:31 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 11, 2003
Commercial announcement
My step mother has asked that I post this. She does these every year for herself, and seems to have quite a bit of fun with them.
10TH ANNUAL WORKSHOP
2004 VISION POSTERS
PICTURE YOUR GOALS
Focus on 2004: Health, Relationships, Leisure, Career, Finances, and Community.
Ideal project for: Professionals, Adults in midlife, 12-Step members, Couples, Parents, Singles.
Date: Sunday January 4, 2004
Agenda: 12-12:30 Guided focusing exercise
12:30-2:30 Construction project
2:30-3:00 Discussion of results
Place: Rose Street Center, main room
368 Rose St., off Diablo Rd.
Danville, CA
To Register: Send $20 check, including phone number, to
Marcie Parisi, MFT California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Rose Street Center