Thursday, March 15, 2012

Enough on the Water?

I suppose the career I had in wastewater treatment has a lot to do with my fascination with water. In all honesty however, I have been spellbound with water all of my life. It all started I suppose when at the tender age of 2, I threw some of my building blocks into the toilet and flushed it. If they'd stayed in the bowl it would have been no problem but, the blocks stopped up the entire apartment building we lived in flooding some of the units on the bottom floor. At least that's what my parents tell me. I guess they should have know I was going to be a problem when as my Dad puts it, I flushed a small statue of liberty that lodged in the toilet bowl's trap. My poor Dad had to pull the toilet up to get the statue out. What happened to the statue you may ask? I'm pretty sure he threw it away at that point since the toilet was used previously to his removal of the bowl. As I grew up the interest in water moved away from the domestic and more toward the sporting side of water use. I'm a certified wastewater plant operator but, I'm a certifiable fishing nut. I was diagnosed with fishing pox around 5 or 6 years of age. It's a fine and pleasant misery that I have enjoyed all my life.

A couple more interesting water facts:
  1. The total amount of water on the earth is about 326 million cubic miles of water.
  2. Of all the water on the earth, humans can use only about three tenths of a percent of this water. Such usable water is found in groundwater aquifers, rivers, and freshwater lakes
Borrowed from All About Water Dot Org.  While today's designs don't all have images of water they do revolve around one basic fact. We all need water to live. These bottles are really kinda cool. We bought 2 of them and are really happy we did. The lids are a twist lock design and do not leak. They're lightweight aluminum and lined with a material that exceeds food grade standards. Read about them here.


Grand Canyon Water Bottle 2 libertybottle
Grand Canyon Water Bottle 2 by FloralbyFred
View more water bottle designs from Zazzle.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Old Guy Humor


 My mother-in-law sent this to me today... Made me laugh so here it is... Some new old guy humor. Thanks Andee.  ;-) 

A good laugh for people in the over 50 group and perhaps their kids too !!! 

When I bought my Blackberry, I thought about the 30-year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a cell phone that plays music, takes videos, pictures and communicates with Facebook and Twitter. I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife and everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. I had to take my hearing aid out to use it, and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside that gadget was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-u-lating."  You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then if I made a right turn instead. Well, it was not a good relationship.
When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual."  Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look.  I was recently asked if I tweet.  I answered, "No, but I do toot a lot.."


P.S. I know some of you are not over 50.  I sent it to you to allow you to forward it to those who are.
We senior citizens don't need anymore gadgets.  The tv remote and the garage door remote are about all we can handle.


 Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr me hearties!!!!

OLD GUYS RULE!!!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Hope

Every once in awhile an article comes along and just makes you feel better... This is one of those articles. Have a read, I enjoyed it. You may like it too.



Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr me hearties!

OLD GUYS RULE!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Bodie State Historic Park

Along with all the mining apparitions, we visit here once in awhile. It's a great place for a walk about and it's very interesting. The self guided tour map is available for purchase and it's quite good. An authentic old west ghost town, it is chocked full of history and interesting artifacts to view, photograph and just enjoy. If you go, be absolutely sure to visit the museum. It's a fascinating place to see a wealth of artifacts from a historic California gold mining town.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

What's new?

I have officially retired from my position with the City of Riverside. The shift work was really getting to me again and my body couldn't stand up to it. At any rate, I'll be posting again from time to time now. I'm slowly getting things sorted out and I need to figure out what to occupy my time with. I need to find some part time work... I know it's a horrible time to look. I have a couple of options that may pan out. More on those later.


For now, I'm working on my Zazzle store:
Nature and floral images by Fred

And my store's blog:
Florals by Fred Blog

Please have a visit and let me know what you think. I'm hoping to make some sales soon.

Sadly, my flyfishing addiction has somewhat been on hold lately. I am planning on getting out next week to toss a fly around on some local waters. I REALLY need to do this. I'm also planning on taking some time to start tying flies again. I have been absent from the bench since summer... way too long. Talk to me folks! I have an open calendar now and need direction, lol.

Thanks and until next time,
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR me hearties!

Old Guys Rule!!!!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Silly Bumpersticker


I designed this for some of my Ham Radio friends... hope they like it. ;-)

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Updates

I have been incredibly busy lately between work family obligations and setting up the Nature and floral images by Fred Zazzle store. Not much is really changed except I have picked a date for retirement. As of this week it's going to be September 29 2011. Then things should start moving even faster! Wahooooooo... Until next time,

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr me hearties!!!

OLD GUYS RULE!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

HR607 Spetrum reallocation and sell-off.

Every Amateur radio enthusiast and anyone who benefits from it's use should be concerned about this. Please watch this short video and respond as you feel you should. Thanks



For more information and to view this video on ARRL's website, click here.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Fakebook er I mean facebook

How many of my friends are on facebook? Well, according to facebook, I have 91 friends. I had no idea there were that many people that are willing to speak to me let alone look at the inane ramblings of an Old Guy. As it turns out, there are 7 people that follow this blog from facebook. Funny... 7 people including myself... Of course my family reads this thing when I post something once in a blue moon. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way complaining or suggesting nobody likes me. I don't even like the taste of worms. I digress...

Facebook seems like a good idea at first. Keeping up with old acquaintances, renewing old friendships and the like. I wonder how many of us actually do that? You get to looking around find other things to do like games and causes to get involved with. I even tried something called Farmville. The idea is to cooperatively build up a farm and play at making it the best farm possible. I expanded rather rapidly and was finding that I had to work at it. Getting notices that I needed to do things, planning out what time I had to be home to get on facebook to harvest, plow and plant. Oh, and don't forget helping out your neighbors. I also began having trouble with the interface then so I decided to quit playing. Some find that to be relaxing and fun... I don't. To those that were my neighbors, I'm sorry but, I have a job already.

The causes run the gamut from A to Z. I saw some that I agreed with then became bombarded with requests... I got rid of most of those too. I've discovered that it just doesn't pay to "like" anything but what my 91 friends say when they actually say something. OH well....

Then there's the ranting as folks try to either make a point, comment about a recent event or share an opinion. I also don't like when someone tries to convince me that their particular political views are the only reasonable sane views there are... An honest debate is ok but, ranting about it and using abusive speech just makes them look like an idiot. All I can say I guess is, just get over it! They are not the at the center of the universe and they won't change my mind. I also discovered something during one of these exchanges. I'm offended when someone has the preconceived notion that I hate groups of people just because I disagree with what they are or, what they do or, what they say. This is simply not the case. I get it that racial discrimination is bad, I also I really do understand how and why people do what they do unless they physically or emotionally hurt others. So let's just agree to disagree and move on. Life is way too short.

I'm off my soapbox now... facebook has numerous security and privacy concerns with new ones coming up all the time. Bottom line: be careful! You have the power to say no... usually. Facebook's security flaws and weird policies aside, It's a lot of fun under the right circumstances. As long as you are careful about online security, courteous to those you interact with and spend a reasonable amount of time on facebook, I think it's a good thing. I always appreciate someone's comments, suggestions and interaction. After all, we call each other friends don't we?



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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Retirement Planning

Today's entry is from a friend, Dan... Thanks Dan!


He booked himself on a Caribbean cruise and proceeded to have the time of his life, that is, until the ship sank. He soon found himself on an island with no other people, no supplies, nothing, only bananas and coconuts.

After about four months, he is lying on the beach one day when the most gorgeous woman he has ever seen rows up to the shore. In disbelief, he asks, "Where did you come from? How did you get here?"

She replies, "I rowed over from the other side of the island where I landed when my cruise ship sank."

"Amazing," he notes. "You were really lucky to have a row boat wash up with you."

"Oh, this thing?" explains the woman. "I made the boat out of some raw material I found on the island. The oars were whittled
from gum tree branches. I wove the bottom from palm tree branches, and the sides and stern came from a Eucalyptus tree."

"But, where did you get the tools?"

"Oh, that was no problem," replied the woman. "On the south side of the island, a very unusual stratum of alluvial rock is exposed. I found that if I fired it to a certain temperature in my kiln, it melted into ductile iron
I used that to make tools and used the tools to make the hardware."

The guy is stunned.

"Let's row over to my place," she says. So, after a short time of rowing, she soon docks the boat at a small wharf. As the man looks to shore, he nearly falls off the boat. Before him is a long stone walk leading to an exquisite bungalow painted in blue and white. While the woman ties up the rowboat with an expertly woven hemp rope, the man can only stare ahead,
dumb struck. As they walk into the house, she says casually, "It's not much, but I call it home. Sit down, please."

"Would you like a drink?"

"No! No thank you," the man blurts out, still dazed. "I can't take another drop of coconut juice."

"It's not coconut juice," winks the woman. "I have a still. How would you like a Pina Colada?"

Trying to hide his continued amazement, the man accepts, and they sit down on her couch to talk. After they exchange their individual survival stories, the woman announces, "I'm going to slip into something more comfortable. Would you like to take a shower and shave? There's a razor in the bathroom cabinet upstairs."

No longer questioning anything, the man goes upstairs into the bathroom. There, in the cabinet is a razor made from a piece of tortoise bone. Two shells honed to a hollow ground edge are fastened on to its end inside a swivel mechanism.

This woman is amazing," he muses. "What's next?" When he returns, she greets him wearing nothing but some small flowers on tiny vines, each strategically positioned, she smelled faintly of gardenias. She then beckons for him to sit down next to her.

"Tell me," she begins suggestively, slithering closer to him, "We've both been out here for many months. You must have been lonely. There's something I'm certain you feel like doing right now, something you've been
longing for, right?" She stares into his eyes.

He can't believe what he's hearing. "You mean..." he swallows excitedly as tears start to form in his eyes, "You've built a Golf Course?"


ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Me Hearties!!!!!!

Old Guys Rule!!!




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Monday, September 13, 2010

32 Basic Truths For Mature Humans

I have to say thanks to Tammy's Mom for this entry, it's funny.... At least to those of us that are how to say it delicately... aging?

1. I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.

13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. “Do not machine wash or tumble dry” means I will never wash this – ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn’t answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.

21. Sometimes, I’ll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

25. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?

29. There’s no worse feeling than that millisecond you’re sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists.

31. Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!


ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR  Me Hearties!!!!
OLD GUYS RULE!!!


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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Glenn Beck: America Revealed

I know Glenn Beck is a controversial figure in news media. Whatever you may think of him, sometimes he makes sense. I ask you to watch this series of videos. Unfortunately, I don't have links to the entire series but, there is a lot of information included in these three. The videos have the first half of his program but not the last. I don't necessarily endorse his views but, they make me think. That's a good thing! Leave comments if you like, all I ask is that you please engage respectfully. Rude and or obnoxious comments will be deleted.

Beck: Divine Providence vs. Manifest Destiny





Beck: From Servitude to Slavery





Beck: Segregation in the 20th Century





Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com


Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr me Hearties.......

Old Guys Rule!!!!




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