Author: wwducat

About: Writer, Technology guy, Photographer, Possibly EX-Software QA Engineer, Worker Bee. Interests: SCUBA, Working out, Friends, New Views, New Vistas, Photography
Posted on

A busy day running around

 

Yesterday I had to go to the Long Beach. The drive wasn’t as bad as it could have been. And the drive home wasn’t all that bad either.

People are still doing stupid things on the road but it’s not nearly as irritating to me as it used to be. It’s amazing what NOT having to put up with LA traffic Day in and Day out will do for your attitude.

I noticed the other morning that I was smiling for no damn reason. In fact I couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off my face. I’m much happier today than I was say, 4 weeks ago.

AND in the foot in my mouth department….

I’m sitting in the eye doctors office. One of the nice ladies asks why I’m here, I say I’m having a problem with a trial set of contacts. She asks if I have an appointment I say yes. She looks at me quizzically and then at her book and says “wow you’re  really early”.

I say well it’s better for me to be early than late and demanding to be seen.

OOOOPPPPS..

There’s a dude sitting in the waiting area that did EXACTLY THAT! I’m getting the stink eye from him but that only tells me he’s very aware he’s in the wrong.

Ahhh I can’t help it sometimes… Being an asshole comes SOOO NATURALLY to me! Sometimes I don’t even know I’m being an ass.

Judging by the overheard phone conversations this guy is chronically having HE’S GOT PROBLEMS even without whatever problems he’s got with his eyes. I know way more about his personal & business life than I should.

Considering that he was practically yelling into his phone, and I could hear the other side of the conversation From the phone pressed to his ear. I think that in addition to needing help with his glasses, he probably needs either a new phone, or a hearing aid. Possibly both.

It’s grey and overcast on the coast. But further inland it’s sunny and pretty. All the more reason to smile, here at home it’s beautiful and while there is yet stuff to do in the yard and around the house I’m in such a good place I find myself smiling more often than not.

It’s amazing how much being really stressed and unhappy at work can affect your outlook on EVERYTHING!

I’m wondering how long it’s going to take the dofusses at work to actually send out the paperwork telling me when I’m really going to be laid off. Thus far they haven’t been able to actually decide on a layoff list much less when it’s going to happen.

Just a few weeks ago this would have driven me to a frothing rage. Now it’s like whatever, whenever, I just don’t care.

Until they actually tell me with a letter or something  I guess I keep turning in a time card.

Posted on

Just when I Thought I was done…

There’s yet more to do!

I’ve been doing a lot of chores. Yesterday I insulated the pipes in the basement. This after having a plumber in to replace a valve that was threatening to inundate the basement.

I’d already dug up and replaced every single sprinkler head in the back yard. Not because they were all broken mind you, the easy way would have been to repair the risers that were broken and leave it be.

Not Mr. overachiever here. OH Nooooo!

The dogs play in the back yard. Believe me two 80 pound Goldens can cause a lot of damage if they’re into a wrestling match.  All the existing sprinkler heads were sitting ducks. So I replaced the old “fixed” heads with nice Pop-ups that are buried flush in the ground. The dogs can roll right over ‘em and not cause a problem.

Then while I’m at the hardware store. I see a bunch of very nice plants. I think wow those would look nice in my yard D’OH! Digging any kind of hole here is hard labor. I’ve seen guys in their front yards using picks and shovels and I’ve heard of folks using fractional sticks of dynamite to plant a sapling.

I’ve been wanting to add more plants in the back yard for a while. Along my North fence line I have blackberries On the East fence I’m going to be planting raspberries, on the west fence will be grapes. And to top it off, I’m putting an apple tree back there too. This will take digging 8 holes… Awww shit!

Wonder if I know anyone with dynamite?

IMG_0537IMG_0538

Well, when its done and the plants have grown a bit It will nook nice.

The next project is the front yard.

I’m looking at hot tubs that would fit in a spot next to the deck…

It never ends…..

Posted on

Our Media is out of control

Perhaps I’m a little Grumpy this morning. DSC_0843

Well in truth I’m usually grumpy in the morning. I’ll eventually become human at some point during the day.

In recent history we’ve seen major news organizations take what they’ve read online for granted. Then without vetting the information, or checking any ancillary sources they’ve published as true and correct, completely fictitious stories.

The most recent example of this are the blog posts supposedly from a “Gay Girl in Syria” These posts garnered a lot of media attention. Mainstream and local, news outlets were taken in.

All anyone had to do was check the originating IP addresses on the blog posts or the emails supposedly coming from this poor girl. And the hoax would have been immediately apparent. Eventually someone technologically savvy did precisely that, discovering that the emails originated from an American in Edinburgh.

Faster communication doesn’t necessarily mean better communication.

What someone writes on a blog isn’t necessarily true. ANY Idiot can write a blog, (I’m an Idiot and you’re reading my blog) when did blogs, which are essentially the personal opinions of the writers become valid news sources? At best blogs should be treated as editorial pieces and at worst ignored completely.

Our media need to return to being Journalists instead of talking heads looking for the most salacious, sensational bits of information or misinformation they can find.

They need to actually investigate their stories, and they need to stop relying on purely online resources for their research.

There was something called Journalistic responsibility once, perhaps it’s time to make that concept a priority again.

Just THIS Village idiots opinion…

Posted on

Rambling thoughts for a Sunday

 

I have got to stop reading the news! It just pisses me off. I’ve developed the habit of reading the paper over my first cup of coffee. I don’t need to be pissed the first thing in the morning even if I am moving slow.

I’m being a lazy bum today, I do need to get my sorry ass in gear and work in the yard but right now I’m just enjoying a coffee and being a bit lazy. I haven’t even bothered to pull on any clothes.

I think this is probably the second or third morning where it’s been warm enough to be comfortable nude. So I’m’ enjoying it. There’s still time for me to do the chores that I need to do.

I’ve been thinking about putting up a screen around part of the deck railing so that when it’s really nice outside I can have coffee out on the deck in the sun and not bother with clothes either.

Thinking about it… The deck would be a nice place to do morning yoga and then have coffee. If you’re going to do a sun salutation you might as well salute the sun in all it’s glory… in all your glory.

Yikes! Another project. I keep doing that to myself… Well at least this project should be on the simpler side. Although lately it seems that the simplest things seem to always snowball into layer on layer of complicated. Is it just my luck or am I somehow cursed?

Was at a friends house for dinner yesterday and I think he introduced me to a potentially expensive new hobby. It sounds interesting and would allow me to get a lot better at shooting. For me that’s a twofer. I don’t get to shoot nearly enough and want to build skill and be much more comfortable with my gun.

It means that I’m going to have to get up early next Saturday to make it to the range. I’ll also need to get more ammo sometime during the week.

I know the things above seem un-related.

Allow me to explain. Over the past three years I’ve had a monster of a commute through some of the worst traffic LA has to offer.

Most days I was on the road four hours some days it was six.

The schedule was like this, drive 2 or 3 hours into work, work a 10 hour day, drive 2 or 3 hours home. Eat dinner way too late, crash for the night and repeat. By the time the weekend rolled around I had no energy to do shit.

Now that my company is “laying me off”, I’ve been home for a few weeks.

During that time, I’ve been filling my days with chores, and workouts and writing. Now I’ve got enough energy to start new projects, and try my hand at hobbies that I couldn’t commit time to before.

As I’ve stated elsewhere in the blog I’m planning to take a driving trip up the coast. If I can fit my dive gear in the car I’ll take it with me too. I’ve got at least one buddy up the coast that dives and I’m hoping to coax him into a dive or two.

The point is, now that I have the time I’m trying to use it well. I’ve been wanting to get to the shooting range more often. I want to dive more. I want to get out and take more photos. I’m working on a book and my goal is to complete that by the end of the year.

Those are the personal goals.

At the same time I need to figure out what I’m going to do for work. There is enough money so that with unemployment and  if I’m not crazy in my spending I can go for a while. But ultimately I will need to have a source of income.

I’m far more relaxed and in general much happier than I have been for a while.

The only fly in the ointment is that the company hasn’t yet said “you’re laid off” (there’s a long story there which I’ll blog about sometime). They’ve told me not to bother coming in because there’s little to no work for me. I check my company email once a day or so and they’re still paying me. (I know… it’s a great fucking gig! Too bad it won’t last.)

If another project wants me, I’m obligated to join the new project when and where they want me. If I refuse the position then technically I’m quitting and that means no unemployment benefits.

For the moment I’m in a kind of employment limbo and while having a job is preferred, I’m done with the commute. I just can’t stomach the thought of 2 and 3 hour drives to work every day anymore. There has to be a better way to make a living.

So for the moment I’m in a holding pattern.

I suspect that the company will give me the official word soon. When they do I’ll take my work computer back to them and process out.

At that point it’s new career time. But first….

I’m going to go play!

Posted on

Psycho Babble

MF

I caught an article in The Huffington Post this morning about Anthony Weiner and thought “OH for God Sake”

In this article a several Psychologists (all female) were spouting psycho hoodoo explanations about why Weiner cheated.

Dr. Robi Ludwig I think came closest to touching on the truth. when she said; “Cheating for the man is about excitement, building up their ego, enjoying the chase and just plain mixing things up!”

I have a some questions.

1) Why is it ALWAYS dowdy women Psychologists being interviewed? (although In this case all three are pretty hot looking )

2) Why is it always assumed it’s the Mans fault? Why couldn’t it be that his wife just isn’t interested in sex?

3) Why does no-one EVER consider the possibility that the couple in question has an arrangement?

4) Is ANY of this OUR business?

I think it’s worth noting that many women are very sexually attracted to “bad boys”. I have been hit on frequently at happy hour events if I’m wearing a ring. And even more so if I’m a little scruffy around the edges.

I think at minimum that there are two issues going on here. First, the women are bored in their love life and they want to shake things up too. It’s likely that their husbands are just not bothering to take the time to make them happy (sex as a duty instead of a lot of fun). Second the old cliche is true, if a guy is wearing a ring, he’s safe, he’s not going to show up with flowers and candy and throw her nice neat life into a tail spin.

My point is, women cheat too and while they’re caught far less often they’re right there getting naked with a stranger JUST like men. And Thank God for bored wives!

Why do men cheat?

The thrill of the Hunt

We DO love the thrill of the hunt, I’ll grant you that. Of course our society today and many women in particular seem to think that approximately 1.8 Million years of genetic predisposition to hunting can be cancelled out by a mere 10,000 years of so called civilization. WRONG!

Variety vs boredom

Getting nasty with someone different JUST feels damn good. A different person means different technique, different sensations and smells and that just ADDS to the excitement.

Without spilling the beans and losing my MAN card… Guys will put their dicks in just about anything. It’s not because we’re perverts (N.O.W.’s screeching notwithstanding) It’s because we’re curious about new sensations. “Hummm what does that watermelon feel like on the underside of my dick? what would it feel like to have (Insert Celebrity name here) lick the juice from my balls?”

I don’t think its any different for men or women. We all get bored in our sex life. Sometimes one partner isn’t interested in mixing it up or trying something new. If that goes on too long, the adventurous partner has three basic choices.

1) Live with that particular kink unfulfilled

2) Discard the current spouse and find someone that WANTS to play more adventurously

3) Keep the spouse and find a little fun on the side.

I doubt seriously that option 2 or 3 are executed on the spur of the moment. Most often option 1 is the choice because it’s the simplest, easiest, and safest. But year after year of boring sex and the viability of options 2 or 3 increase exponentially.

When your spouse ONLY wants to fuck in the missionary position and refuses to even consider something new it’s pretty damn easy to find someone that’s up for a little adventure. As a man, I can tell you it becomes almost an imperative.

As an aside, there is also such a thing as TOO MUCH. If lovemaking becomes a tour de force of “marital aids” where each device is more technical than the last. Or when a good old Saturday afternoon fuck becomes a 1 hour preparation for 30 minutes of sex, well then the equation is unbalanced and it’s probably easier to go to the garage and jerk off.

Some of the devices sound like you’re working in a wood shop. I don’t know about you, but for me, spontaneity is completely ruined when I’m looking for fucking batteries in the kitchen drawer to fire up a toy that sounds like a wood chipper.

Arrangements

Adults can enter into arrangements. It’s possible that due to poor health, or growing apart ( but staying together for the kids) that a couple would simply agree to sexually go their separate ways. These arrangements are more common than you might think.

I’ve personally known two couples dealing with cancer. In couple A the woman had cancer and was undergoing a variety of very harsh treatments and surgeries. Couple B it was the man undergoing the treatment.

Both of the cancer patients Gave their spouse permission to find someone to see to their sexual needs. In fact both of the cancer patients even suggested a person that might have been willing to fill the bill, from a circle of their closest friends.

This in my humble opinion is about love not perversion or cheating.

I’ve been living in an open arrangement for the past two decades. Were I confined I’d have gone insane. I’m sure that I’d also have been cheating. As it is both of us are allowed to enjoy ourselves so long as we practice safe sex and don’t wave it in each others faces. Arrangements work if both parties have a clear sense of boundaries.

Monogamy

I think that monogamy is an un-natural and unrealistic construction. It’s about control and probably was about keeping women in check. After all the men were out and about and what happened on the hunt, or on the raid, or crusade STAYED there. Dudes aren’t likely to come home and tell each others wives, “Richard raped his way through the holy land m’lady he was an animal”

I don’t think monogamy is natural for humans in general and certainly not for me in particular.

In the Whoa! category

I also have begun to wonder about our societies treatment of men and male sexuality. It’s pretty accepted that men are more about sex than women. So on the one hand we acknowledge this and at the same time denigrate male sexuality as some kind of “condition” comments like “he’s testosterone poisoned” show up in comedy routines pretty often.

Most men’s best friend is their dick. Men shouldn’t be made to feel bad about wanting to use their dick. We shouldn’t be embarrassed about jerking off as boys or adults, we’re acting according to our nature. We’re visual and we like porn. so what? It’s not wrong and the actors / models get paid for their work. WHY do we call that exploitation and all too often castigate men in general for enjoying what it’s in our nature to enjoy.

Repression of natural urges is not a good idea, for men that repression often shows up in other less desirable ways. Why don’t we all agree to accept Male sexuality as a normal thing and stop acting like it’s bad?

I’m not condoning cheating per se

Part of being a man is living up to your commitments. If you committed to your spouse that you wouldn’t cheat then you really must live up to that commitment.

At the same time you and your spouse committed to meet each others needs. If either of you break that commitment then frankly all bets are off.

I just don’t think it’s any of the publics business. I sure as hell wouldn’t want my dirty laundry carted out in the national press. Which brings me to another point.

The media needs to stay out of celebrity and politicians bedrooms.

Who is fucking who is NONE of the publics business. We’re becoming a nation of voyeurs. We need to get our fat asses off the couch, go fuck our spouses, and GET OUT and LIVE OUR lives.

We all need to stop living vicariously through celebrity news, and reality TV. Go do something in your own life!

Getting out and moving is especially important for Men.

DUDES I hate to tell you this, but all the good living here in the United States is fucking us up. Go out and check the testosterone levels over the past 30 years or so. There’s a substantial trend down. Which means prostate cancer is up, sterility is up, and less than hard erections in young men are becoming the norm.

You can combat this trend by eating less junk/processed food and by WORKING. I’m not talking your 9 to 5…

I’m talking getting out an mending fences, or playing football with your kids, or working out. Do anything that engages your mind and your muscles and you’ll be healthier in general and your cock and balls will thank you.