On Families...
I come from a large family, three older brothers, two parents, dogs, cats, mice, myself and once even a pet chicken. Because of growing up in a house full of people, I have come to value my personal space, and like to have time to myself a good majority of the time. I guess this makes me "a bit of a loner" as referred to by a former professor recently.
However, if I am a loner, the other strange side effect of this, is that one tends to surround yourself by groups of friends which can also be determined as "families" Because they all share a common bond. Such examples are:
1) The Office family...Co-workers who you actually give a damn what happens to. I work in a small office and so I like to make sure everyone is doing ok.
2) The Grad School family...This is the group of people I went to Architecture school with. We still keep in touch. I assume this is very similar to people who have gone through a traumatic experience together will bond.
3) The Church Family...This is the group of singers and musicians I sing with. This one seems to change a lot.
4) The Childhood friends...This is about 3 or 4 people that I grew up with. Still see them at least once a week.
Now, the interesting thing about this is that these groups are entirely separate from each other. I sort of drift in and out of these groups at will. They have never crossed over. One of these days I will have a party and see if they can mix.
...I guess this makes me a family man...
Sunday, April 03, 2005
A diatribe about the Papacy...
Since Pope John Paul II has passed from this world into the next, and the difficult and arduous task of choosing a new Pope will begin soon, here are a few things I would like to see the new head of the catholic church address:
1. The role of women in the Catholic Church as keepers of the faith. Who made you go to church as a kid? Mom, of course. When young people leave the church and then later after getting married and having children, it is usually the wife who brings the family back into the church. Women are usually running the education programs and directing the liturgy. Nowadays, little girls aren't officially allowed to be altar servers, but there is a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in place which gives individual parishes a loophole to allow it. The original Diaconate was made of of women. The Pope should acknowledge this, and allow women to be altar servers, deacons, and priests.
2. The new Pope should attempt to open a dialogue with the leaders of the Islamic, Protestant, and Jewish communities in order to establish the proper reverence and tolerance for people of all faiths, and even people who have no faith. The first step towards understanding someone is to realize that they do not think the same way as yourself.
3. The acknowledgement from the church that 60-75% of all funding for the church comes from the United States.
4. The church should become less ritualistic and instead spend the money that would be used for elaborate ceremonies on helping the poor and destitute.
5. The acknowledgement that abortion should be kept legal for public health reasons in cases of rape, incest, and the safety of the mother. Either this or the acknowledgement that a church or government has no right to tell a woman what she can do with her body.
6. The new Pope should acknowledge the cases of Priests molesting young children, by having them forcibly removed and subjected to criminal charges in all cases.
more later possibly...I still have opinions on married priests, transubstantiation, and confessions.
Since Pope John Paul II has passed from this world into the next, and the difficult and arduous task of choosing a new Pope will begin soon, here are a few things I would like to see the new head of the catholic church address:
1. The role of women in the Catholic Church as keepers of the faith. Who made you go to church as a kid? Mom, of course. When young people leave the church and then later after getting married and having children, it is usually the wife who brings the family back into the church. Women are usually running the education programs and directing the liturgy. Nowadays, little girls aren't officially allowed to be altar servers, but there is a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in place which gives individual parishes a loophole to allow it. The original Diaconate was made of of women. The Pope should acknowledge this, and allow women to be altar servers, deacons, and priests.
2. The new Pope should attempt to open a dialogue with the leaders of the Islamic, Protestant, and Jewish communities in order to establish the proper reverence and tolerance for people of all faiths, and even people who have no faith. The first step towards understanding someone is to realize that they do not think the same way as yourself.
3. The acknowledgement from the church that 60-75% of all funding for the church comes from the United States.
4. The church should become less ritualistic and instead spend the money that would be used for elaborate ceremonies on helping the poor and destitute.
5. The acknowledgement that abortion should be kept legal for public health reasons in cases of rape, incest, and the safety of the mother. Either this or the acknowledgement that a church or government has no right to tell a woman what she can do with her body.
6. The new Pope should acknowledge the cases of Priests molesting young children, by having them forcibly removed and subjected to criminal charges in all cases.
more later possibly...I still have opinions on married priests, transubstantiation, and confessions.
Friday, March 25, 2005
Still among the living...
Damn, didn't realize it has been a month since the last posting...Things have been rather busy. I did have some time to go out for St. Paddy's day, which is a requirement for us Irish-type folks, or you risk losing your official Irishman license. A good time was had by all.
I also figured out that I have worked an extra month of overtime already this year. I think I am going to add months to the calendar to reflect this....January, February, Maruary (or Farch?) March, etc...Anyhow, I have figured you know you are busy when you eat both of your daily meals while eating in the car. I don't like to do this, but between work ( the new position has been an interesting and time consuming experience, but I am liking it) and practices for Easter Masses, I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off, so I had to do this for a couple of days last week. However, It does keep me from getting all angry with what's been happening in the world, because I don't know what's going on...
...So it is true...Ignorance IS Bliss. Or sleepiness, depending on how you come by your ignorance.
Damn, didn't realize it has been a month since the last posting...Things have been rather busy. I did have some time to go out for St. Paddy's day, which is a requirement for us Irish-type folks, or you risk losing your official Irishman license. A good time was had by all.
I also figured out that I have worked an extra month of overtime already this year. I think I am going to add months to the calendar to reflect this....January, February, Maruary (or Farch?) March, etc...Anyhow, I have figured you know you are busy when you eat both of your daily meals while eating in the car. I don't like to do this, but between work ( the new position has been an interesting and time consuming experience, but I am liking it) and practices for Easter Masses, I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off, so I had to do this for a couple of days last week. However, It does keep me from getting all angry with what's been happening in the world, because I don't know what's going on...
...So it is true...Ignorance IS Bliss. Or sleepiness, depending on how you come by your ignorance.
Saturday, February 26, 2005
A Good Evening...
After a long day at work, I went and saw Finding Neverland at the art house theater in Downtown Houston, then walked to Frank's Pizza and got some Pizza Rolls, then walked to the Chase bank plaza where I sat next to a mural, the ugliest Miro sculpture ever, Personage and Birds, Phillip Johnson's Penzoil Building is across the street along with the limestone clad Jones Hall, and in the background, one of the oldest buildings in Houston had its gothic top illuminated.
...Sometimes you gotta take the me time...
After a long day at work, I went and saw Finding Neverland at the art house theater in Downtown Houston, then walked to Frank's Pizza and got some Pizza Rolls, then walked to the Chase bank plaza where I sat next to a mural, the ugliest Miro sculpture ever, Personage and Birds, Phillip Johnson's Penzoil Building is across the street along with the limestone clad Jones Hall, and in the background, one of the oldest buildings in Houston had its gothic top illuminated.
...Sometimes you gotta take the me time...
Saturday, February 19, 2005
In Memoriam Part Three-Revenge of the Intern...
We had an office happy hour last night, where I learned yet another person at our firm is leaving...A young guy who is really skilled, talented and an all around nice guy, was offered a job by his Intern Development Program Mentor...
...I'm happy for my coworker, but I can't help wonder if he was "headhunted". Is it ethical for the mentor to offer him a job, when he was in the position to advise him on his career path? I don't know.
...Strangeness afoot at the Circle K, if you ask me.
We had an office happy hour last night, where I learned yet another person at our firm is leaving...A young guy who is really skilled, talented and an all around nice guy, was offered a job by his Intern Development Program Mentor...
...I'm happy for my coworker, but I can't help wonder if he was "headhunted". Is it ethical for the mentor to offer him a job, when he was in the position to advise him on his career path? I don't know.
...Strangeness afoot at the Circle K, if you ask me.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
In Memoriam Part Deux...
In those days where the only thing constant is change...Our receptionist at the office quit yesterday.
I kind of wonder about this, you see, she had taken a lot of sick leave (9 days in two months) due to a new baby who has some kind of respiratory ailment, and was offered a choice...Leave and be granted three weeks pay or try to stay, and don't miss another day at work for the rest of the year (we only get 10 sick days a year), and if she does, she risks being fired.
I can't decide if the company was being nice or being something else.
In those days where the only thing constant is change...Our receptionist at the office quit yesterday.
I kind of wonder about this, you see, she had taken a lot of sick leave (9 days in two months) due to a new baby who has some kind of respiratory ailment, and was offered a choice...Leave and be granted three weeks pay or try to stay, and don't miss another day at work for the rest of the year (we only get 10 sick days a year), and if she does, she risks being fired.
I can't decide if the company was being nice or being something else.
Monday, February 14, 2005
In Memoriam...
One of my projects was torn down recently in the name of progress...An outdoor reading classroom for a school in Bellaire was destroyed along with the old school in order to build a brand new school for the area. Personally, if I had gotten the chance, I would have left the outdoor classroom where it was and used it for the reading circle in the center of the library, but they never asked me. I think that's what bothers me about it is that I was never asked. My graduate school class put hundreds of hours and blood sweat and tears into building that thing, and it seemed so casually wiped out. Bummer. All I can hope is that is was such a S.O.B. to tear down, that by golly, those contractors will remember it.
In parallel weirdness, I also got most of my hair cut off yesterday...It is very, very strange to have short hair. I don't really recognize myself in the mirror yet, which by the way is a really, really odd feeling.
One of my projects was torn down recently in the name of progress...An outdoor reading classroom for a school in Bellaire was destroyed along with the old school in order to build a brand new school for the area. Personally, if I had gotten the chance, I would have left the outdoor classroom where it was and used it for the reading circle in the center of the library, but they never asked me. I think that's what bothers me about it is that I was never asked. My graduate school class put hundreds of hours and blood sweat and tears into building that thing, and it seemed so casually wiped out. Bummer. All I can hope is that is was such a S.O.B. to tear down, that by golly, those contractors will remember it.
In parallel weirdness, I also got most of my hair cut off yesterday...It is very, very strange to have short hair. I don't really recognize myself in the mirror yet, which by the way is a really, really odd feeling.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
More life weirdness...
Well, the high school I have been working on is now been released to the general public, in order to find the best contractor for the job. This will last about six weeks and then each contractor will submit a bid and the one who has the best qualifications and the lowest price will get the job. I am just so relieved that we got the documents out that it feels like the stone has been pulled from my shoulders.
The Bad news... Somewhere along the line working on this school I have become the one in the office that has the most knowledge of the project...Therefore I have been promoted (I think?) to the position of Project Manager for the biggest job our company has had in a while if not ever...No pressure there guys.
Anyhow, what I find strange about the whole thing is this, combined with the fact that we have lost a lot of our older people with more experience and know how, and now I, along with my 28 year old pregnant coworker are now "the old guard" at the office. They have hired "young'uns" (25 and Under) to replace the older folk, and so me and my pregnant friend are now having to teach these guys, even though we are not too far from where they are. Scary!
...Having to learn to be one of the grownups can kinda suck sometimes...
Well, the high school I have been working on is now been released to the general public, in order to find the best contractor for the job. This will last about six weeks and then each contractor will submit a bid and the one who has the best qualifications and the lowest price will get the job. I am just so relieved that we got the documents out that it feels like the stone has been pulled from my shoulders.
The Bad news... Somewhere along the line working on this school I have become the one in the office that has the most knowledge of the project...Therefore I have been promoted (I think?) to the position of Project Manager for the biggest job our company has had in a while if not ever...No pressure there guys.
Anyhow, what I find strange about the whole thing is this, combined with the fact that we have lost a lot of our older people with more experience and know how, and now I, along with my 28 year old pregnant coworker are now "the old guard" at the office. They have hired "young'uns" (25 and Under) to replace the older folk, and so me and my pregnant friend are now having to teach these guys, even though we are not too far from where they are. Scary!
...Having to learn to be one of the grownups can kinda suck sometimes...
Friday, January 14, 2005
What Happens When...
...You get a couple of architects with a few odd ideas and add in a smattering of psychedelic drugs?
http://arts.ucsc.edu/faculty/Lord/AntFarm.html
Ant Farm -Doug Michels
http://www.well.com/user/parasw/dougmichels/visions.html
...You get a couple of architects with a few odd ideas and add in a smattering of psychedelic drugs?
http://arts.ucsc.edu/faculty/Lord/AntFarm.html
Ant Farm -Doug Michels
http://www.well.com/user/parasw/dougmichels/visions.html
Monday, January 03, 2005
A Commentary on the Director's Cut...
I just watched the director's cut of Daredevil, a movie that which, in the theater, frankly:
SUCKED.
Now, the reason I gave the director's cut even a chance is because:
A. I am a hardcore serious comic book fan nerd-o-rama and feel obligated to support comic based films.
B. I Really dig Daredevil...In a way, he's the redheaded stepchild to Spider-Man, and a character that the editors of comic books always let the writers do whatever to him because he wasn't that popular, and they ended up getting these great stories out of it. As a writer, you could beat the heck out of DD, have his girlfriend sell out his secret ID for a shot of heroin, whatever they wanted to do. I mean it was one of those cases where anything goes and you never really knew that 'Ol Hornhead would make it out all right at the end of the issue, because he was always just one or two readers away from being cancelled.
C. I Heard they had cut 30 minutes from the original film when they released it.
And gosh darnit, the director's cut is a SO MUCH BETTER FILM!
It actually has a story line, character development and evolution, and an almost completely different ending. I cannot believe the powers that be did not release this version of the film. Unlike the LOTR trilogy, it wasn't for time sake (I still need to watch the 5 hour version I got for X-mas) It seems like it was the case of a short sighted producer wanting to make a film that didn't have anything meaningful in it. D'oh!
...Waiting for that Catwoman Director's cut now, maybe the movie's actually good.
I just watched the director's cut of Daredevil, a movie that which, in the theater, frankly:
SUCKED.
Now, the reason I gave the director's cut even a chance is because:
A. I am a hardcore serious comic book fan nerd-o-rama and feel obligated to support comic based films.
B. I Really dig Daredevil...In a way, he's the redheaded stepchild to Spider-Man, and a character that the editors of comic books always let the writers do whatever to him because he wasn't that popular, and they ended up getting these great stories out of it. As a writer, you could beat the heck out of DD, have his girlfriend sell out his secret ID for a shot of heroin, whatever they wanted to do. I mean it was one of those cases where anything goes and you never really knew that 'Ol Hornhead would make it out all right at the end of the issue, because he was always just one or two readers away from being cancelled.
C. I Heard they had cut 30 minutes from the original film when they released it.
And gosh darnit, the director's cut is a SO MUCH BETTER FILM!
It actually has a story line, character development and evolution, and an almost completely different ending. I cannot believe the powers that be did not release this version of the film. Unlike the LOTR trilogy, it wasn't for time sake (I still need to watch the 5 hour version I got for X-mas) It seems like it was the case of a short sighted producer wanting to make a film that didn't have anything meaningful in it. D'oh!
...Waiting for that Catwoman Director's cut now, maybe the movie's actually good.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Happy New Year....
Another year has come and gone, and so now it is time to reflect on the good and the bad & the ugly:
The Good:
1. Just got back from frozen Minnesota to see my brother Bob, his wife and two chilluns, a 4 year old boy and a 15 month year old girl. The rest of Clan McSherry was there as well. Did the whole winter experience, went skiing and came back with all my limbs intact! Lot of fun, they are really good kids and enjoyed the visit.
2. New Neighbors! Really nice married couple...It's nice to be able to walk out on your porch and have a chat, and then go back inside when you're done.
3. New offices! Our firm moved to larger digs in November...More space for all my junk!
4. Spider-Man 2, Hellboy, and The Incredibles....Great super hero movies.
5. I didn't have to go to any funerals this year.
6. My cats Larri and Darryl. They may be freakish and psycho pets, but they are my freakish and psycho pets.
The Bad:
1. Worked the equivalent of 90 days of overtime this year. I was compensated for a lot of it come bonus time, but I worked a 15 month year this year. Ouch! Try not to do that again.
2. Lazarus the Truck's transmission blew out last June...Cost a lot to fix. I am looking into buying a new Vehicle in '05.
3. Blade: Trinity...Not a good movie. UGH!
The Ugly:
1. Still not a registered architect... Must start testing to correct in '05.
2. Moped in pieces in kitchen...Must get running sooner more than later.
3. Catwoman with Halle Berry. Got a free ticket to this movie and was still angry that I lost two hours of my life.
Another year has come and gone, and so now it is time to reflect on the good and the bad & the ugly:
The Good:
1. Just got back from frozen Minnesota to see my brother Bob, his wife and two chilluns, a 4 year old boy and a 15 month year old girl. The rest of Clan McSherry was there as well. Did the whole winter experience, went skiing and came back with all my limbs intact! Lot of fun, they are really good kids and enjoyed the visit.
2. New Neighbors! Really nice married couple...It's nice to be able to walk out on your porch and have a chat, and then go back inside when you're done.
3. New offices! Our firm moved to larger digs in November...More space for all my junk!
4. Spider-Man 2, Hellboy, and The Incredibles....Great super hero movies.
5. I didn't have to go to any funerals this year.
6. My cats Larri and Darryl. They may be freakish and psycho pets, but they are my freakish and psycho pets.
The Bad:
1. Worked the equivalent of 90 days of overtime this year. I was compensated for a lot of it come bonus time, but I worked a 15 month year this year. Ouch! Try not to do that again.
2. Lazarus the Truck's transmission blew out last June...Cost a lot to fix. I am looking into buying a new Vehicle in '05.
3. Blade: Trinity...Not a good movie. UGH!
The Ugly:
1. Still not a registered architect... Must start testing to correct in '05.
2. Moped in pieces in kitchen...Must get running sooner more than later.
3. Catwoman with Halle Berry. Got a free ticket to this movie and was still angry that I lost two hours of my life.
Friday, December 17, 2004
Jim's swingin' bachelor pad....
I have just recently added to my house the final accessory which makes my house qualify as a "bachelor pad"...You see, I now have something gasoline powered sitting in my kitchen.
While it is not a 1978 straight block V-12 engine (which also gives you extra points on your man license exam), it is a 1980 Honda moped I am trying to get up and running, with aspirations of possibly turning it into an art car. Possibly the result of too many episodes of American Chopper and Monster Garage.
Other qualifications for the bachelor pad include:
1. Having a refrigerator that has a science experiment in it. Otherwise, it is simply a place to keep sodas and beer cold.
2. Having rooms devoted to various and sundry hobbies, such as a large toy or comic book collection.
3. Having a television that costs more than what you paid for all of your other furniture...Combined.
4. Having a DVD rack that has absolutely no "chick flicks" in it.
5. Your pets eat better than you do, because your pantry consists of Pop Tarts, Cat Food, and Canned Ravioli.
I have just recently added to my house the final accessory which makes my house qualify as a "bachelor pad"...You see, I now have something gasoline powered sitting in my kitchen.
While it is not a 1978 straight block V-12 engine (which also gives you extra points on your man license exam), it is a 1980 Honda moped I am trying to get up and running, with aspirations of possibly turning it into an art car. Possibly the result of too many episodes of American Chopper and Monster Garage.
Other qualifications for the bachelor pad include:
1. Having a refrigerator that has a science experiment in it. Otherwise, it is simply a place to keep sodas and beer cold.
2. Having rooms devoted to various and sundry hobbies, such as a large toy or comic book collection.
3. Having a television that costs more than what you paid for all of your other furniture...Combined.
4. Having a DVD rack that has absolutely no "chick flicks" in it.
5. Your pets eat better than you do, because your pantry consists of Pop Tarts, Cat Food, and Canned Ravioli.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
The weirdness that is C-Span...
I was flipping channels today and I ran across the video game report card. Here is the Press Release...
The National Institute on Media and the Family has issued its eight annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card. The report gives a mixed notice on the video and PC gaming industry, with praise for the rating system and for retailers that have a ratings enforcement system but criticised the industry for easy access for M rating games for teenagers as well as not using the AO (Adults Only) rating for Rockstar's recent hardcore stealth action game Manhunt. The report also lists games for children and teens to avoid, including Manhunt, Max Payne 2, Postal 2 and the T rated Def Jam Vendetta, as well as recommended games such as Sim City 4, Rise of Nations and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004.
Now the odd part about this is they had a PSA to encourage parents to monitor what their kids played...But before this they showed examples....C-Span is showing a tape of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas where there is cussing and drive by shootings and the like. Then after that they showed this adult video game where you see real women topless...Now they didn't bleep out the language or pixelate over the nudity on any of this.
....And people are freaking out about Desperate Housewives... I love this country!
I was flipping channels today and I ran across the video game report card. Here is the Press Release...
The National Institute on Media and the Family has issued its eight annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card. The report gives a mixed notice on the video and PC gaming industry, with praise for the rating system and for retailers that have a ratings enforcement system but criticised the industry for easy access for M rating games for teenagers as well as not using the AO (Adults Only) rating for Rockstar's recent hardcore stealth action game Manhunt. The report also lists games for children and teens to avoid, including Manhunt, Max Payne 2, Postal 2 and the T rated Def Jam Vendetta, as well as recommended games such as Sim City 4, Rise of Nations and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004.
Now the odd part about this is they had a PSA to encourage parents to monitor what their kids played...But before this they showed examples....C-Span is showing a tape of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas where there is cussing and drive by shootings and the like. Then after that they showed this adult video game where you see real women topless...Now they didn't bleep out the language or pixelate over the nudity on any of this.
....And people are freaking out about Desperate Housewives... I love this country!
Friday, October 29, 2004
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