Always A Spare Towel

Airports

2011-10-23T15:53:00.000-04:00

Had to take a friend to the airport recently. Wasn't as bad as I had expected. Getting in and out of Philadelphia International is actually quite easy. The access roads from I-95 are clearly marked and there are enough lanes to keep traffic moving. Parking is easy as well. There are the terminal parking decks, the "cell phone lot", where you can park until your party calls you to come get them and the long term parking if you want to leave your car there and drive home after your trip. While there's no more curbside check-in (thanks Al-Queda) it's still fairly convenient during off-peak hours. I always try to schedule my flights after the peak morning or mid-day hours as well as avoiding early evening flights when everyone is coming back from their business trips. It's all in the timing. Choosing your flight time wisely can avoid a lot of aggravation. It's still a good idea to get there at least two hours ahead of time for domestic flights and at least three hours ahead of time for international flights. I'm a bit of an airplane fan so I don't mind sitting around the airport for a few hours watching the planes come and go. An airport is also, at least to me, the best place in the world to people watch. It's a great mental exercise to try and figure out or at least guess at what each person's story is. Where they're coming from or going to, are they on vacation, business or both and are they meeting someone or do they have to get an airport shuttle, taxi or a rental car. It's a fun way to pass the time. But then again, so is having a drink in one of the airport restaurants or bars. Either way, it's fun.

Turning Leaves

2011-10-17T10:40:00.000-04:00

Fall's finally here and the leaves are starting to turn. I really do love watching the colors change. We get some really nice colors around me. The weather is actually nice and it's perfect for walking. Not too warm or cold. Had to pick a friend up at the airport the other day. Traffic wasn't too bad and parking was relatively easy. Have a few things going on this week but nothing outrageous. Have a great week everyone.

Fall's Here

2011-10-12T11:16:00.000-04:00

Fall finally showed up. It's rainy and a bit gloomy but cooler temperatures and nicer weather are in the offing. It'll be nice to go outside and not sweat to death standing still. Great weather for walking and just enjoying the outdoors. Some nice parks around me that I haven't had the chance to walk in for a while. Nice walking trails and some good exercise. Nice scenery, too. It really looks great when the trees are at their peak color. Nice reflections in the water. It's a nice oasis in the middle of a busy suburban area. The county does a really good job of maintaining the parks and they've been allowing the area to go back to a more natural state. They've stopped mowing the grass along the streams and what they do mow is just enough to keep the paths clear. They still mow on the street side so people can picnic and use the softball field but they don't cut the grass right along the river banks. They let that grow naturally and it helps to control the runoff and helps keep the water cleaner. They've got fish ladders at the dams and that seems to be helping increase the local migrating fish stocks. The fishing in the park is actually pretty good. It's all catch and release but people seem to really enjoy fishing there. If you tune out the traffic noise and the planes flying overhead heading into Philadelphia International Airport, it's quite peaceful. It's a great place to spend an afternoon.

This is October?

2011-10-09T15:30:00.000-04:00

It's October 9th, and it's 83º outside. Um, where's fall and what did you do with it? I guess you could call this "Indian Summer". They did have a frost warning the other night so I suppose this little warm up is Indian Summer. It's supposed to go back down to the low 70's by later in the week so I guess we might just as well enjoy the sunshine. It's cool at night so it's definitely fall. Looking forward to the foliage. We get some really nice colors around here. Hope everyone is having a great weekend. See you later.

It's Nice Out!

2011-10-04T15:41:00.000-04:00

Finally, some decent weather. It's in the mid-60's (Fahrenheit) and very sunny. Still job hunting and I got the car serviced this morning. Heard some squeaking from the front end but it turned out to be the suspension bushings. Nothing serious and they took care of it. Other than that, not much else today. Hope everyone's having a good week so far.

It's Fall

2011-09-30T17:02:00.000-04:00

Weather has finally cooled off. Sunny today but MORE freakin' rain for the next few days. Another slow assed upper level low drifting across the mid-Atlantic states. Like we need any more rain. Should be out of here by next Tuesday. Then maybe we can actually start enjoying fall. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Where's Fall?

2011-09-28T15:20:00.000-04:00

Well, the official first day of fall has come and gone but the season seems to be running a little late. It's still warm, muggy and somewhat rainy. The weather service has issued flood warnings (again) due to the approaching storm system. We're on track to possibly tie or even break the record set in 1996 for the most rain in a year. Enough already.

In other news, I finally got around to scanning a couple of new images for my Zazzle store. Still have to clean them up in Photoshop but I should have them on some products sometime soon. I'll post links to them once they're ready. Zazzle's current promotion is 35% off Wrapped Canvas Posters. Here's the discount code you need: Your Moment. Your Memory. Your Masterpiece. 35% OFF WRAPPED CANVAS! Use Code: CANVASPHOTOS

Stop by my Zazzle store (www.zazzle.com/rjvstudios*) or click on the link on the right side of the blog. Have a great day everyone.

Fun With Power Point

2011-09-26T17:16:00.000-04:00

Finally made my first practice slideshow in PowerPoint. It worked, but beyond that it was awful. I just threw something together to get some practice putting a slideshow together. Made a few minor errors but I got the thing to work. I know I'll get better as I go along, but it's a start and no, I WON'T be posting it here or anywhere else. It's kind of like a first draft of a novel or screenplay: It NEVER sees the light of day. I may eventually post something later but not for a while. Have to get good at it first. Hope your Monday wasn't too manic. See everyone later.

Enough Already

2011-09-24T13:12:00.000-04:00

Enough already! We've had a record rainfall in the last month or so (rainiest August on record) and it's not over yet. We've got a couple of more days before things should finally clear out. We've had the kind of rain they get in Tallahassee, Florida, not like we usually get in the Philly area. There's a lot of flood damage in several areas and the continuing rain isn't helping. With any luck things will start to dry out and fall will finally show up. It's still summer like (i.e.: hot, muggy and uncomfortable) and we're technically into fall. Can't wait for cooler temperatures and drier weather. Might actually be able to go for a walk in a local park once the mud dries out. It's a nice park but when it rains, the trails turn into mud holes. Not just soggy but the kind of mud that will suck the boot right off of your foot. Anyway, that's my rant about something completely out of my control. Hope your weather is better than ours. Have a great weekend.

Computer Skills

2011-09-22T14:44:00.000-04:00

Finally getting a real handle on Microsoft Office. Well, most of it. I finally worked through the section on Power Point. Not as difficult as I thought it would be. It's actually pretty straight forward. Granted, I've heard and seen some horror stories of Power Point presentations gone bad (I'm sure all of you have your own stories) but if done properly, it's actually a good way to get your point across. And the software is surprisingly easy to use. It'll take a few tries to get good at it but that shouldn't be too difficult. Excel and Word are another story. But I'll get there. Have a great rest of the week and a great weekend everyone. See you soon.

T-shirt Sale at Zazzle

2011-09-19T08:59:00.000-04:00

Ahoy Matey, It Be Talk Like A Pirate Day - 15% Off All T-shirts! Use Code: AAARRRGGGHHH

The Hell With Friday Women's T-Shirt by rjvstudios
make money as an artist using Zazzle.

Phillies Win Again!

2011-09-17T23:59:00.000-04:00

Well, the Phillies have done it again! They clinched their fifth National League Eastern Division title in a row and they did it the fastest they've ever done it. They're also only two wins away from a 100 win season. Well done, guys!

A Touch of Fall

2011-09-16T14:08:00.000-04:00

Gorgeous, clear and cool day. Finally a little touch of fall in the air. It's supposed to get back up into the mid-70's by next week but today's weather is perfect. Sunny, bright and not too warm. Looking forward to more days like this. Great for getting out and walking and just enjoying the sunshine. Pumpkins should be out soon and some of the leaves are starting to change. Definitely one of my favorite times of year.

Fall's Coming

2011-09-14T16:22:00.000-04:00

Fall is finally getting here. It's supposed to get cooler tomorrow. Can't be happier. It's been a long, hot and steamy summer. It'll be nice to be able to go outside and not need gills to breathe from all the humidity. It'll also make it nicer to go for walks to get some exercise. Smaller sizes, here I come!

Current Zazzle Sale

2011-09-12T09:35:00.000-04:00

Prost! Oktoberfest Sale – 15% Off All T-shirts & Mugs! Use Code: TEEMUGSPROST

1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria Mug by rjvstudios
See more 1956 Mugs

Been Busy, Yet Again

2011-09-04T11:16:00.000-04:00

It's been a while. I finished the software course but haven't had any job offers yet. I'm in that experience "Catch 22", where I have the training but no practical experience. They'd probably like to offer me something but I don't have any experience but I can't get experience unless I get a job. Lots of people in this situation. Got through hurricane Irene okay. Some minor flooding at the base of the outside steps and a little water in the basement but we didn't lose power and no real damage. We got lucky. The folks up in Vermont got absolutely blasted and they're still cleaning up the mess. Now we've got TS Lee to deal with next week. Not going to be a good fall foliage tourism season this year, looks like. Hope all of you had a great summer and have some great things coming up this fall.

Busy

2011-05-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

Hello, everyone. Sorry it's been so long but things have been a bit hectic. Mom was sick, but she's fine now, nothing serious and I've been busy with my software testing course. I'm in the middle of week two and it's all starting to make sense. The live online sessions are a big help and I've been able to devote a lot of time to it so I think I'll do just fine on the first assessment (test) this week. I can take it when I'm ready, there's no time limit and you can take it as many times as you want until you get the grade you're happy with. I'm hoping to do well enough the first time that I can accept the grade and move on to the material for week three. I'll keep you posted. Have a great rest of the week.

Been Busy, Again

2011-04-21T16:20:00.000-04:00

Hi, everyone. Things have been a bit busy so I haven't been able to post much. Start taking an online class for software testing next week and I'm going down to Virginia Beach for Easter. Also been busy with personal stuff and just trying to stay sane. Hope you all have a great weekend and I'll see you next week.

Busy, busy, busy

2011-04-11T15:16:00.000-04:00

Hello, everyone, sorry it's been a few days. Things have been a bit busy so I had to let something slide for a bit. Anyway, I'm looking into a new career as in software testing. Been reading up on it online, except for today, the site was down for some reason. A little ironic, don't you think, a site about testing software to make sure it works properly and it's having software issues. Also been getting back on track with the exercise regimen. Took a long walk yesterday and did some light exercises today. I'm working on getting my stamina back up. I've lost some more weight so I'm happy about that. Other than that, things are pretty much status quo. Still job hunting, but if I start taking classes, I'll have to put that on hold. I'm hoping I can start my classes soon.

Job Fair, Again

2011-04-06T17:26:00.000-04:00

Went to a job fair today and it was actually worth the time. I talked to a couple of people and dropped off some resumés. Got there early so I found a decent parking spot. By the time I came out, people were doing the "Parking Spot Search". I gave my spot to someone who had just arrived and he was very happy about it. Glad I could do someone a favor. Hope he had some success today. The place was mobbed. It was well run and well organized. Maybe something will come of it. Here's hoping.

A Quiet Sunday

2011-04-03T19:57:00.000-04:00

A nice quiet Sunday today. Watched a ball game (GO PHILLIES!) and just took it easy. Replaced a burned out light bulb and talked to a friend, but other than that, a nice quiet Sunday. Went through a software tutorial to get a start on using some book design software, but that's a fun thing so it doesn't count as work. Will pick up the job hunt tomorrow, looking for a survival job until I can get something better. Also looking into getting into something new. Have to do a little research but hopefully can start working on it soon. I'll keep you all posted.

Job Fair Nonsense

2011-04-01T16:40:00.000-04:00

Went to a job fair last night. Total waste of time. The giveaway should have been the fact they didn't list the companies that would be there. Nothing but outside commission sales. No wonder they didn't list them. Not everyone wants to sell siding and life insurance. They grossly underestimated the number of people who would attend and more than a few people, including myself, walked out. If nothing else, I learned that if you want to attend a job fair, check out the company or organization sponsoring it. If they don't (or won't) list the companies looking for people, there's a good chance it's for sales positions with a fairly high turnover rate. Live and learn.

Hitting Khadafi

2011-03-27T18:27:00.000-04:00

It looks like the air strikes are having their desired effect. The Libyan rebels have retaken two key oil ports and Khadafi's troops seem to be retreating in haste. According to reports, they've left ammunition and supplies behind and just, as one source put it, "melted away". The coalition has hit Khadafi's hometown of Sirte and other positions. The rebels have retaken territory they lost earlier. They are moving westward and are looking to take Sirte soon. Qatar, who is participating in the strikes, has said they will help the rebels move the oil currently in storage. The storage facilities are filled to capacity so they can't pump any more oil until they pump out the current stocks. With any luck, that might even help bring oil prices down. Maybe. All we can do now is watch and wait. Here's hoping it ends soon and the Libyan people can rebuild a better country and future.

Mold, Ugh!

2011-03-26T17:57:00.000-04:00

Found some mold in a corner of the back room in the apartment. We notified our landlord, who is currently serving with the USMC in Japan. He got back to us and said to clean it and keep him apprised of the situation. It seems to have just been surface mold since I was able to get rid of it with the appropriate cleaner and some elbow grease. The room tends to be a bit cool and I think some dampness has gotten in from the outside. The plaster is still solid so I think with a little monitoring, the periodic spray of blocker and better air circulation, we should keep the mold at bay. Our landlord plans to do some renovations when he returns in December. Well, maybe not right after he gets back but probably in the spring of next year. I think things should be okay until then.

Been Busy

2011-03-24T22:08:00.000-04:00

Been a busy week, between workshops, meetings and support groups. Finally got my resume ready and have started sending it out. I've also been networking and am returning a couple of favors to people who have helped me. Have some ideas about where to apply that are a little out of what I originally thought of but you never know what might happen. Have to start applying and will probably go to some local job fairs. Could find something there and if nothing else, I'll make some connections that may pay off in the long run. Have to keep plugging and working at it. Also have to make time for some other projects and trying to get back up to speed on some software. Got a lot to do and have to make the best use of my time as possible. Whew!