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26 row(s) meet your search criteria for March , 2003.
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The Romance is... not Completely Gone - March 31, 2003
I'm refering to the romance of Train travel.
I was assigned to a 2 week project in downtown Seattle. To get there, I considered flying. However, if you calculate the time wrapped around a plane trip to Seattle (30 mins to the airport, get there and hour + pre-flight, hour flight, cab to downtown), the time would be the same as driving.
So I considered driving. It is about a 3 hour drive to Seattle, plus or minus depending on the stops made, speed (time spent at less than 80mph determined mostly by Trooper sightings), and the Sunday night, returning home from vacation I-5 traffic. However, you then must also consider the $2/gallon price of gas, and the $20+/day parking charges. Maybe there's another option.
So I considered the train. It was cheap - $50 round trip, the time to get there was 3 1/2 hours, the project site and hotel are reasonably close together (walking distance), and I could get some sleep or read the collection of project documents. It seemed like a good idea.
The late train was sold out, so I booked a seat on the 4:05pm. Marie and the kids dropped me off at about 3, and I went in, checked my bag and looked at the schedule. Delayed - departure at 5:10pm. OK - an hour - I can hang for that. I should have checked the 'net for schedule before leaving home, just like I normally do when I do air travel. But ok, a lesson learned.
The train finally pulled out of the station about 6:45. So maybe train travel isn't much different than air travel.
In many ways, time in the train station is similar to air travel. You sit around, you get something to eat, you watch people. There are some arrivals and reunions (albeit much fewer at the train station simply due to the volume of trains arriving/departing), but the most interesting difference is the type of folks riding the train. I guess I could have guessed that Amtrak clientele is a little lower on the socio-economic scale, and a little lower in the quotient of business travelers.
Both of these facts are probably exaggerated in the Northwest, but people here take some wierdness to extremes.
- We had Amish, with their beards, funny hats, sensible shoes and long dresses.
- We had grunge nuts, with the dreadlocks, baggy pants, ripped jeans, purple and blue hair, piercings everywhere and skater boy.
- We had the old folks, probably going on a retirement adventure with his sandals and light blue socks.
- The hippies, with their long flowered flowing dresses, guitars and bongo drums.
The uneventful trip ended about 10ish in Seattle. The train was not close to full, I sat upstairs which provided a good view (until the sun went down), the seats reclined and have a popup footstool like a lazy boy recliner. I didn't get to sleep - I guess it was the excitement (or maybe the 44 oz of caffiene I had while waiting), nor did I review any project documents. I did read my "Air & Space Smithsonian", and my innaugural issue of "Golf" magazine.
I did enjoy the trip. And with the exception of the 2 1/2 hour delay, the trip contained no other annoyances and I was not fatigued when I reached my destination. Seattle is a "cab capable" town, so the ride from the train station to the hotel was easy. I think I will plan the next leg of the trip in a similar fashion, and hope that I get only a little less time to "experience" Amtrak's northwest clientele.
Auntie Jeanne's Birthday - March 28, 2003
Today is my sister Jeanne's birthday. Let's see, she was born in 1961.... that would make her.......oh crap - 42. Forty Two? I didn't think I was old enough to have a 42 year old sister.
Happy Birthday Jeanne. We are looking forward to your visit!
Early Birds - March 27, 2003
Ok. For a week now, Sara has been waking up at 5am. Happy as a clam, only getting unhappy when Ma & Pa procrastinate stumbling through the darkness to rescue her. Most of the time our procrastination is in hopes that she will return to a sleeping state. We lay there awake pleading with her to sleep more - each 15 second interval of silence followed by stereo rendition of "please please please please". Unfortunately, this has not been the case.
Between the "please" chorus you can usually find a "don't wake Garrett" harmony as well.
The last few days have seen denial on both requests resulting in both kiddies and one groggy adult downstairs watching Baby Einstein videos.
Marie is working the "Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Baby" book looking for answers. This book has so far been very helpful - as both kids have been to this point really good sleepers. However, what she found is not encouraging. I'm paraphrasing, but essentially it says "If your baby wakes up happy, you are SOL." Our only savior is that Daylight Savings Time is coming, which means she'll sleep until 6am. But, really, is that any better? Me thinks not.
Stadium Bill - March 27, 2003
Nearly two years after a similar bill was stalled in the state Senate, House Bill 3606 was introduced Wednesday in the Oregon Legislature, beginning a journey that could decide the future of major league baseball in Portland. (Here is an in depth look from the Oregonian. Two other more biased opinions are Portland Baseball Group and the Oregon Baseball Campaign)
As I understand it, the state would issue bonds for about $150 million. The payback of those bonds would come from a payroll tax on anyone associated with the resultant team who makes more that $100,000 in salary. Given that the average salary for Major League players is well over $1 million, most of the taxes collected will come from players.
This is the so-called "jock tax" that seems to be favored for new stadium financing deals. While these types of taxes are relatively new, I wonder what players, when evaluating free agent contracts, might think about this tax. They (or maybe better said - their agents) aren't dumb. If I got a contract offer from Portland for $1 million, and another team for $1 million - its not quite even with the tax. I don't know what the tax rate is, its never been published - But could it hurt the Portland ball club in the longer run as free agents end up costing more money?
UPDATE:Further info tells me that it is the standard Oregon Income tax that is taken from people making over $100k with the Ballclub and allocated to paying off the bonds. Makes more sense now and the "wondering" I did in the last paragraph is now no big deal.
I still like the idea of the Indians footing the entire bill of $350 million to build a stadium. Although there has been much speculation about what MLB thinks about arrangement - though I don't believe anything had ever been said formally about the issue.
Even if the bill passes, and this is by no means assured considering the hurdles it failed to pass last time, there are still major issues regarding the ownership group. The biggest issue is that there isn't an ownership group. The 2nd issue is the fact that while $150 million might get a project started, another $70 will be required from the owners. The third issue is that, while I'm no math major, (150 + 70 = 220), there is still $130 million required to finish the job. The next issue is that the owners must then buy the team from MLB - how much could that be? another $100 million maybe?
There is much to do before this becomes a reality. I'll be glad when the season actually gets underway next week so I can retire into my own private rotisserie world.
Roto Baseball Draft - March 25, 2003
This year's draft was much more conventional that last years. I'm not sure what it was last year that threw me off, it simply felt unusual. While this year's draft was long (7+ hours), I spent all my allocated budget, and pretty much achieved what I had hoped to in the draft. I picked up a big $ hitter - (Raul Mondesi) and a pitcher (Bartolo Colon), a medium $ hitter (Robin Ventura) and a bunch of scrubs all at less than $7 each.
It seems however, that my team has become a bunch of former Dodgers. Paul Konerko, Karim Garicia, Mondesi, Omar Daal, and Antonio Osuna. I'm not sure why this happens. Maybe since Fox took ownership they've lost much of the talent that made them successful (this indicates that my Roto team picking ability is better than professional scouts), or maybe I'm attracted to names I once followed closely in my younger days. If it is the latter, then this should stop soon as I haven't followed the Dodgers in about 7 years (ever since the move to Oregon).
I do however, believe that this might be the year of my victory. My hitting should be very good. My pitching staff is questionable. I do not have any closers, so the Save category will get me 1 point. This requires a stellar effort of all my other pitchers, and a lot of luck. But with some good Free Agent moves, I believe it will be good enough to win.
I'm hopeful, but the Devil Rays are in first place right now too.
Back from Vegas, Again - March 25, 2003
I enjoy going to Las Vegas. There is something about the free exchange of money and the endless stream of people from around the world that I find interesting and fun.
I've been there 3 times in the last 6 months. This last trip was under the excuse of our Roto Baseball Draft, but had the added advantage of the NCAA Tournament, and, for some, Spring Break. The place was PACKED! I've rarely seen it as busy. Working the table games was nearly impossible due to the crowds, and the high minimums.
I nearly didn't gamble at all, except for a short time on a 3-Card Stud poker game at the Rio. Now this was not my normal play. In fact I've never played poker in Vegas, and the times I have played friendly games (in college or in nickel/dime games with buddies), I have never felt very comfortable playing. But this game at the Rio seemed simple enough - Get three cards, beat the dealer's hand. I watched for a while, felt that I hand a decent handle on the game, and sat down. The player next to me helped out some, and the dealer did as well. At one point I was up by about $20, and something inside me said "Go". I had learned a new game, hadn't lost any money, and got a free beer. I also mentioned this to a friend of mine watching me play. "A smart man would get up and leave at this point" I said.
But no. It turned out to be a $120 lesson.
War Protesters in Oregon... who'da thunk? - March 20, 2003
I love the smell of pepper spray in the evening. It smells like....
more long haired, tree hugging, maggot infested, anti-war protesting liberals going to jail.
Although from the looks of it on TV, the pepper spray is probably the first shower these freaks have seen in weeks.
Sara's Rehab Effort - March 19, 2003
Much to our surprise and joy, we believe that the "debinkification" process is complete. While still a risk for relapse, Sara has slept succesfully 4 nights without the plastic monkey. While the first night was a little trying (she was not happy after about an hour or so of sleeping, and cried for about an hour), each night has gotten easier. Last night she cried for about 30 seconds before sleeping all night.
One of the techniques used in the process was the "broken" theory. Marie cut off the business end of the pacifier and gave it to her. Sara was confused and looked up at mommy as if to say "what the hell?". Mommy looked down sadly and said "broken". Sara fingered the missing latex, looked back at Mommy, and wailed.
Marie was sad. She came downstairs and gave me the "I feel so bad" speech. At one point I thought she might just cave in. "Be strong" i said, "it's for the best".
For the 1st day or so, we would give her the "broken" binky, and she would often take it, and make a sad attempt to put it in her mouth. In some way I think she was referencing in her mind the "I think I Can" choo-choo story she has seen. Thinking that if I believe, it will re-appear. At some point during the last couple of days however, reality kicked in. I tried to hand her the "broken" one and she forcefully smacked it from my hand as if to say - "are you stupid?". My daughter already thinks her parents know nothing. I suppose that's good practice for when she's a teenager.
In the end (I think we are at the end anyway), we were strong, and while her sleeping habits are still not back to normal (she's been waking up early lately and taking shorter naps), we have helped Sara kick the devil of addiction, and hopefully she will thank us for it.
I'd settle for her sleeping until at least 7am each day.
Cookies for Breakfast? - March 17, 2003
This morning as I was helping clean up the kitchen after breakfast, I ran across a leftover snickerdoodle cookie. Thinking that the bag of cookies was all the way to the other side of the kitchen, I decided that I should allow the cookie to fulfill its destiny.
Garrett entered the kitchen while I was giving the cookie it's last rites, and he said "Garrett Cookie?". Ok I thought. It will only enhance my reputation with the boy and make even more glorious the last moments of the cookie. I broke off a small piece, and while holding the larger piece in my other hand, offered it to him.
Garrett processed the disparity in size between the two and pointed to the larger piece and said "Garrett THAT cookie!".
"Nice try kid" I said, as I disposed of MY cookie.
W's Bedtime Prayer - March 17, 2003
Woundwort over at Silflay Hraka wrote a very poignant entry on the impending war and what is hoped to be achieved by President Bush. As part of that, he theorizes what George’s bedtime prayer will be:
Dear Lord:
Please protect our men and women whom I am about to put in harm’s way. Let this be a swift and decisive war that ends with our side being victorious. Please let all of our big guns work, and allow all those cool laser guided thingies go where they are supposed to and hit as few churches and schools as possible. I pray for the Iraqi people, and pray that I can actually pronounce all of the words I will see on the teleprompter tonight. I pray for the safety of my family, and all of the American families, and I REALLY, REALLY pray that our troops will find at least one weapon of mass destruction so that I can call the French president, yell into the phone “I told you so” and hang up quickly before he knows that it was me. I am thankful for the brave men and women of our military who protect our country and keep it free, and I’m also thankful for the Texas Rangers and foreign leaders with simple names.
Amen.
I can only add that I hope that "friendly fire" doesn't do more damage than the Iraqi's, and that Saddam doesn't have time to blow up the oil fields. I'd like to see gas back down toward $1/gallon.
God bless the troops, and guide them to a speedy victory.
FREE IRAQ!
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